WORSHIP, n. [See Worth.]

1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness. Elfin born of noble state / And muckle worship in his native land. – Spenser. In this sense, the word is nearly or quite obsolete; but hence,
2. A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and others of respectable character. My father desires your worship's company. – Shak.
3. A term of ironical respect. – Pope.
4. Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. The worship of God is an eminent part of religion. – Tillotson. Prayer is a chief part of religious worship. – Tillotson.
5. The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as, the worship of Isis.
6. Honor; respect; civil deference. Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. – Luke xiv.
7. Idolatry of lovers; obsequious or submissive respect. – Shak.

1. To perform acts of adoration.
2. To perform religious service. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. – John iv.

1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration. Thou shalt worship no other God. – Ex. xxxiv. Adore and worship God supreme. – Milton.
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. Nor worship'd with a waxen epitaph. – Shak.
3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover. With beaded knees I daily worship her. – Carew.

1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.

   A man of worship and honour. Chaucer.

   Elfin, born of noble state,
   And muckle worship in his native land. Spenser.

2. To respect] to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
   
   
   [Obsoles.] Chaucer.

   Our grave . . . shall have a tongueless mouth,
   Not worshiped with a waxen epitaph. Shak.

   This holy image that is man God worshipeth. Foxe.

3. To perform acts of homage or adoration; esp., to perform religious service.
   
   

   Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John iv. 20.

   Was it for this I have loved . . . and worshiped in silence? Longfellow.

4. Honor; respect; civil deference.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Of which great worth and worship may be won. Spenser.

   Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke xiv. 10.

5. To pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honor of; to adore; to venerate.
   
   

   But God is to be worshiped. Shak.

   When all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones. Milton.

6. Hence, a title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and others of rank or station.
   
   

   My father desires your worships' company. Shak.

7. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission, as a lover; to adore; to idolize.
   
   

   With bended knees I daily worship her. Carew.

   Syn. -- To adore; revere; reverence; bow to; honor.

8. The act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; religious reverence and homage; adoration, or acts of reverence, paid to God, or a being viewed as God.
   
   
   "God with idols in their worship joined." Milton.

   The worship of God is an eminent part of religion, and prayer is a chief part of religious worship. Tillotson.

9. Obsequious or submissive respect; extravagant admiration; adoration.
   
   

   'T is your inky brows, your black silk hair,
   Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream,
   That can my spirits to your worship. Shak.

10. An object of worship.
    
    

    In attitude and aspect formed to be
    At once the artist's worship and despair. Longfellow.

    Devil worship, Fire worship, Hero worship, etc. See under Devil, Fire, Hero, etc.