Olatry

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Extreme reverence or devotion paid to a person, object, or concept treated as divine or supremely worthy
2. Intense idolization or adoration of something elevated to the status of a god or ultimate authority
3. Passionate and fervent worship or veneration of a thing or being regarded with religious-like devotion

Etymology: Its surprising core lies in the root it shares with "idolatry." The Greek "latreia" originally meant paid service, the work of a hired labourer, before it came to mean worship of a god. English took it up through Greek compounds such as "eidololatreia," literally "image-worship," which became "idolatry" in Middle English. "Olatry" appears to be a shortened form of this, built on the same "-latry" element and used mainly as a combining form in words like "bibliolatry" (excessive devotion to the Bible) and "Mariolatry" (excessive veneration of Mary). What is clear is that the element carries the older Greek sense of devoted service, now directed at an object or figure rather than paid for.