'spirit-venerating' originates from English as a compound of 'spirit' and the present-participle form of 'venerate'. 'spirit' ultimately comes from Latin 'spiritus', meaning 'breath, spirit', and 'venerate' comes from Latin 'venerari', meaning 'to worship or revere'.

'venerate' entered English via Latin 'venerari' (and Old French influence) into Middle English; the compound form combining 'spirit' + 'venerating' is a modern English formation used to specify what is being venerated (i.e., spirits).

Originally, 'venerate' meant 'to worship or regard with deep respect' (often applied to gods, saints, elders); combined with 'spirit' the phrase narrowed to mean specifically showing that respect toward spirits.