Bibliolatry

/ˌbɪbliˈɒlətri/ noun

Definition

Excessive reverence or worship of books; the practice of treating books as sacred or supremely important objects.

Etymology

From biblio- (Greek biblion 'book') + -latry (Greek latreia 'worship, service'). Created in the 19th century alongside similar '-latry' words (idolatry, heliolatry) to describe book veneration.

Kelly Says

Bibliolatry has a serious side: throughout history, controlling which books exist and circulate has been about controlling minds—so some societies literally did treat books as sacred objects worth protecting or destroying.

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