Worship

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈwəːʃɪp/
• US IPA: /ˈwɝʃɪp/

Origin

From Middle English worschippe, worthschipe, from Old English weorþscipe, corresponding to worth("worthy, honorable") + -ship. Cognate with Scots worschip ("worship").

Full definition of worship

Noun

1. (obsolete) The condition of being worthy; honour, distinction.
• 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book I:whan the knyght sawe that, he alyghte, for hym thought no worship to haue a knyght at suche auaille he to be on horsback and he on foot ...
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.3:Then he forth on his journey did proceede,
  To seeke adventures which mote him befall,
  And win him worship through his warlike deed ...
2. The devotion accorded to a deity or to a sacred object.
3. The religious ceremonies that express this devotion.
• TillotsonThe worship of God is an eminent part of religion, and prayer is a chief part of religious worship.
4. (by extension) The ardent love of a something.
5. An object of worship.
• LongfellowIn attitude and aspect formed to be
  At once the artist's worship and despair.
6. Honour; respect; civil deference.
• Spenserof which great worth and worship may be won
• Bible, Luke xiv. 10Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Derived terms

Synonyms

• adoration
• reverence
• idolatry

Verb

1. (transitive) To reverence (a deity, etc.) with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honour of.
• ShakespeareGod is to be worshipped.
• MiltonWhen all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones.
2. (transitive) To honour with extravagant love and extreme submission, as a lover; to adore; to idolize.
• CarewWith bended knees I daily worship her.
3. (intransitive) To participate in religious ceremonies.We worship at the church down the road.