Word: worship Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English worschippe /worthschipe, inherited from Old English weorþsċiepe. Cognate with Scots worschip (“worship”). By surface analysis, wor(th) + -ship. Pronunciation: /ˈwɜː.ʃɪp/, /ˈwɝ.ʃɪp/, /ˈwɔɹ.ʃɪp/ 1. The devotion accorded to a deity or to a sacred object. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: Polytheistic theology and worship had to go underground. 2. The adoration (or latria) owed to God alone, as greater than the hyperdulia) that is given to Saint Mary only and the veneration (or dulia) accorded to all other Roman Catholic saints. Labels: especially, uncountable, usually 3. The religious ceremonies that express this devotion. Labels: metonymically, uncountable, usually Example: The worſhip of God is an eminent part of Religion; and Prayer, which is often in Scripture expreſſed by ſeeking God, and calling upon his Name, is a chief part of Religious Worſhip. 4. Voluntary, utter submission; voluntary, utter deference. Labels: broadly, uncountable, usually 5. Ardent love. Labels: also, broadly, uncountable, usually 6. An object of worship. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: In attitude and aspect formed to be / At once the artist's worship and despair! 7. Used as a title or term of address for various officials, including magistrates. Labels: UK, uncountable, usually Example: “I beg your worship’s pardon,” said Mr. Bumble, incredulous of his having heard aright,—“did your worship speak to me?” Example: 'Your Worships, I have a submission to put before the court. As Your Worships are aware, it is the duty of the court under Section thirty-nine of the Children and Young Persons Act to protect the identity of minors who are victims of offences […] 8. Honour; respect; civil deference. Labels: obsolete, uncountable, usually Example: And many ſtrange aduentures to bee fond, / Of which great worth and worſhip may be wonne; […] Example: But when thou art bidden, goe and sit downe in the lowest roume, that when he that bade thee commeth, hee may say vnto thee, Friend, goe vp higher: then shalt thou haue worship in the presence of them that sit at meate with thee. 9. The condition of being worthy; honour, distinction. Labels: obsolete, uncountable, usually Example: I will be on horsbak said the knyght / thenne was Arthur wrothe and dressid his sheld toward hym with his swerd drawen / whan the knyght sawe that / he a lyghte / for hym thought no worship to haue a knyght at suche auaille he to be on horsbak and he on foot and so he alyght & dressid his sheld vnto Arthur Example: Then he forth on his iourney did proceede, / To ſeeke aduentures, which mote him befall, / And win him worſhp through his warlike deed, […] 10. The fact of an artist's music heavily drawing influence from some other artist's work in a way that appears too obvious or unapologetic; a piece of music that does this. Labels: slang, uncountable, usually Example: In that time, McLachlan’s music has developed from adolescent Kate Bush worship to mature roots-driven folk (like the hits “Building a Mystery” and “Sweet Surrender”) and ballads (“Witness,” “I Love You”) that border on hymnody. Example: During his 15-year recording career, first with Galaxie 500 and now with Luna, Dean Wareham has shown all the signs of incurable Velvet Underground worship. The predilection for churning out ironic but always melodic rhythm-guitar-based tunes; the deadpan, almost-bored vocals: Why, it's enough to send you to the cover of the third Velvet Underground album, the one with Lou Reed and company sitting on a sofa, to see if Wareham's head is peeking out from behind it.