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¹worship

noun wor·ship \ˈwər-shəp also ˈwȯr-\

: the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god : the act of worshipping God or a god

: excessive admiration for someone

Full Definition of WORSHIP

chiefly British : a person of importance —used as a title for various officials (as magistrates and some mayors)

: reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence

: a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual

: extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem <worship of the dollar>

See worship defined for English-language learners

See worship defined for kids

Origin of WORSHIP

Middle English worshipe worthiness, respect, reverence paid to a divine being, from Old English weorthscipe worthiness, respect, from weorth worthy, worth + -scipe -ship

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WORSHIP

Synonyms: adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping (also worshiping)

Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sire, sous

²worship

verb

: to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god

: to show respect and love for God or for a god especially by praying, having religious services, etc.

: to love or honor (someone or something) very much or too much

worshipped also worshipedworship·ping also worship·ing

Full Definition of WORSHIP

transitive verb

: to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power

: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion <a celebrity worshipped by her fans>

intransitive verb

: to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship

— wor·ship·per or wor·ship·er noun

See worship defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of WORSHIP

13th century

Related to WORSHIP

Synonyms: adore, deify, glorify, revere, reverence, venerate

Antonyms: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

Synonym Discussion of WORSHIP

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling <a professor revered by her students>. reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring <reverenced the academy's code of honor>. venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age <heroes still venerated>. worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony <worships their memory>. adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment <we adored our doctor>.

WORSHIPED Defined for Kids