worship English · revision 6907

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 888}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈwɜː.ʃɪp/, US /ˈwɝː.ʃɪp/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English wurrshipe, worschipe, [[inh|ang|weorþscipe|t=condition of being worthy, honour, renown]], Anglian worþscip,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) [[af|ang|weorþ|-scipe|t1=worthy, worth|t2=-ship]] (see [[worth]] and [[-ship]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) literally “worthship”.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English weorþscipe, the condition of deserving esteem, honour, before 900 in Alfred's translation of Boethius.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first it meant good name, credit, dignity or importance,^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) and respect or honour shown to a person or thing is recorded about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988) Reverence paid to a divine being is attested by late Old English in Etymonline, before 1325 in Barnhart;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Word Origins and Hoad say it was not used in religious contexts until about 1200 or the 13th century.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) The old sense of honouring survives in the marriage service's “with my body I thee worship”, and Trench notes that Wycliffe could write that God would “worschipe” the man who served him.^(Trench 1859) It also survives in ''your worship'', a form of address for a magistrate or mayor,^(Cresswell 2021)^(Collins 2023) and in [[worshipful]] (before 1300).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb is from about 1200, at first to pay divine honours,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and by about 1300 to honour a parent or spouse with due esteem.^(Etymonline) ''Hero worship'' is from the early 18th century, first of the ancient cult of heroes such as Hercules.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 900 – weorþscipe, honour, in Alfred.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – respect shown.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – the verb, to pay divine honours.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – worshipful.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1325 – veneration of a divine being.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 18th century – hero worship.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The reverent love and devotion given to a [[deity]], idol or sacred object.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The ceremonies and prayers that express this; a religious service.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Great or excessive admiration or devotion; [[adoration]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly Brit., Your Worship)'' A title for a [[magistrate]] or mayor.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To honour and love as divine; to take part in religious worship.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To admire or love devotedly, often excessively.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[worshiper]]

+ * [[worshipingly]]

+ * [[self-worship]]

+ * [[worshipful]]

+ * [[misworship]]

+ * [[preworship]]

+ * [[worshipless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[worth]]

+ * [[worthy]]

+ * [[-ship]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}