worship

 
Pronunciation: /ˈwəːʃɪp/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity: worship of the Mother Goddess ancestor worship
  • religious rites or ceremonies, constituting a formal expression of reverence for a deity: the church was opened for public worship
  • great admiration or devotion shown towards a person or principle: the worship of celebrity and wealth
  • archaic honour given to someone in recognition of their merit.
  • 2 [as title] (His/Your Worship) chiefly British used in addressing or referring to an important or high-ranking person, especially a magistrate or mayor: we were soon joined by His Worship the Mayor

verb (worships, worshipping, worshipped; US also worships, worshiping, worshiped)

[with object]
  • show reverence and adoration for (a deity): the Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods
  • [no object] take part in a religious ceremony: the family worshipped at Trinity Church
  • feel great admiration or devotion for: she adores her sons and they worship her

Derivatives

worshipper

(US also worshiper) noun

Origin:

Old English weorthscipe 'worthiness, acknowledgement of worth' (see worth, -ship)

Spelling help

Worship is an exception to the rule that you only double the last letter when adding endings which begin with a vowel to a word ending in a vowel plus a consonant if the stress is at the end of the word. In this case, the stress is at the beginning of the word, but you should still double the p: (worships, worshipping, worshipped).