By Rick Wattman
November 1992, Revised March 1996

Worship \’w&r-sh&p \ n [ME worshipe worthiness, repute, respect, reverence paid to a divine being, fr. OE weorthschipe worthiness, repute, respect, fr. weorth worthy, worth + scipe -ship, akin to OHG skepfen to shape] : reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence vt : to regard with great, even extravagant respect, honor, or devotion ~ vi to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship

WORSHIP. Literally, worth shape: to give shape to the state of someone’s worth or specific value.

That’s some of what Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary has to say about the word “worship” and how it made its way into our language. The etymology of words can add insight into the meaning behind the definition, and I must confess that they hold some measure of fascination to me. Continue reading →