The act of showing reverence, devotion, or deep respect for someone or something, especially in a religious context.
From Old English 'weorthscipe,' composed of 'weorth' (worthy, value) and 'scipe' (state or condition, like '-ship'). Originally meant 'to treat as worthy of honor,' and the meaning has remained remarkably consistent, though now used both religiously and colloquially ('he worships that actor').
The suffix '-ship' in 'worship' also appears in words like 'friendship' and 'kinship'—they all literally mean 'the state or condition of being' someone or something, so worship is 'the state of treating something as worthy.'
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