worship
/ˈwɜːr.ʃɪp/
noun/verb
Origin
Old English
weorðscipe — condition of being worthy, honor, dignity
Overview
Meaning Now
- The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
- The acts or rites that make up a formal expression of religious devotion.
- Excessive admiration or devotion to a person or thing.
Literal older meaning
worthiness or worth-ship
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
weorðscipe
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The term originally denoted the social status or 'worthiness' of a person. In Middle English, it was commonly used as a formal honorific (similar to 'Your Honor') to address those of high social standing. It wasn't until the late medieval period that the term became primarily reserved for the religious adoration directed toward a divine being, though the legal title remains in some jurisdictions.
Evolution
- Old English
weorðscipe
“honor, dignity, respect”
Compound of 'weorð' (worthy) and '-scipe' (suffix denoting state or condition).
- Middle English
worschip
“honor, reverence, authority”
Used as a title for noblemen or magistrates (e.g., 'Your Worship').
- Early Modern English
worship
“reverence paid to God or a deity”
Refinement of religious sense through the Reformation period.
Connections
Word parts
worth
root
value, merit
-ship
suffix
state, condition, or quality of
Related across languages
Dutch
waardigheid
dignity, worthiness
German
Werth
value, worth
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Related to worship
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.