spirit-worshiping
|spi-rit-wor-ship-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈspɪrɪtˌwɝʃɪpɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈspɪrɪtˌwɜːʃɪpɪŋ/
(spirit-worship)
reverence for spirits
Etymology
'spirit-worshiping' originates from Modern English, specifically the words 'spirit' and 'worship', where 'spirit' ultimately comes from Latin 'spiritus' meaning 'breath, spirit' and 'worship' comes from Old English 'weorþscipe' meaning 'worthiness' or 'honor'.
'spirit' passed into English from Latin 'spiritus' via Old French and late Latin into Middle English, while 'worship' developed from Old English 'weorþscipe' (literally 'worthiness' + '-ship') and evolved to mean 'reverence' or 'honor' in religious contexts; these elements combined in Modern English to form compounds like 'spirit-worship' and its derivatives.
Initially the components meant 'breath/spirit' and 'worthiness/honor'; combined they conveyed the idea of honoring or revering spirits, and this basic meaning has persisted into the modern compound 'spirit-worshiping'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or practice of worshiping spirits or spiritual beings (e.g., ancestral spirits, nature spirits).
Many indigenous communities practiced spirit-worshiping as part of their rituals.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characterized by the worship of spirits; devoted to spirit worship.
The spirit-worshiping ceremony drew both scholars and tourists.
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Last updated: 2025/09/15 11:40