Cult

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Cult, n. [F. culte, L. cultus care, culture, fr. colere to cultivate. Cf. Cultus.].

•  Attentive care; homage; worship.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every one is convinced of the reality of a better self, and of the cult or homage which is due to it."  [1913 Webster]
•  A system of religious belief and worship.  [1913 Webster]

  "That which was the religion of Moses is the ceremonial or cult of the religion of Christ."  [1913 Webster]
•  A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult.  [PJC]
•  The group of individuals who adhere to a cult (senses 2 or 3).  [PJC]
•  A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Cult, n.
1 a system of religious worship esp. as expressed in ritual.
2 a devotion or homage to a person or thing (the cult of aestheticism). b a popular fashion esp. followed by a specific section of society.
3 (attrib.) denoting a person or thing popularized in this way (cult film; cult figure).

Derivative

cultic adj. cultism n. cultist n.

Etymology

F culte or L cultus worship f. colere cult- inhabit, till, worship

THESAURUS

Cult

Sabbatarianism, Weltanschauung, adoration, articles of religion, catechism, celebration, ceremonialism, church, co-worship, communion, connection, credenda, credo, creed, cultism, cultus, denomination, devotion, doctrinal statement, dulia, faith, formalism, formulated belief, gospel, homage, hyperdulia, ideology, idolatry, ism, latria, liturgics, liturgiology, liturgism, mystique, persuasion, political faith, political philosophy, prostration, religion, reverence, ritualism, rituality, ritualization, sabbatism, sacramentalism, sacramentarianism, school, sect, solemn observance, solemnization, symbolics, symbolism, system of belief, transcendent wonder, veneration, world view, worship, worshiping

ROGET THESAURUS

Cult

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.