[f. WORSHIP v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of offering worship (to a deity).
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9372. But yn alle here moste gladyng, To fals goddys þey made wurschypyng.
c. 1315. Shoreham, II. 4. Þou opene myne lyppen, lord,… And my mouþe … Schel þyne worschypyng sende.
14[?]. Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 174. Angels alle in his presence Ar vndyr thyn obedyence, And do the worshippynge!
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 195. They felle … by ydolatrye from the worshypynge of very god.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 36. The abhominable synne of ydolatry, yt is the worshyppyng of false goddes.
1535. Coverdale, Wisd., Contents, The worshippinge of ymages.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xxxvi. 158 b. [They left] the woorshipping and calling on their false gods.
1623. Cockeram, II. A worshipping of Idols, Idolatrie.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., II. 375. For … virtue, and God’s better worshipping.
b. With a and pl. An instance of this; a form or variety of worship.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 197. They … were wretchedly ledde to the worshypynges of Idols.
1549. Olde, Erasm. Par. Ephes., Prol. C iij. To walke … as it were before the porche of the temple,… to expell and kepe out all false worshyppinges.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xx. (1617), 348. What are all the worshippings of God which man hath ordained of his owne head, but childish imaginations.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, V. vi. 406. To acknowledge one God, whome varietie of Sects and worshippings should best content.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 193. That the thoughts … should enkindle in us … hearty worshippings, of a boundless goodness.
† 2. The action of honoring, revering or treating with profound respect. Obs.
13[?]. Gosp. Nicod., 993. Haue pese with wirschiping, iosep of Aramathy.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 440. Too myche worshypyng of Antecristis lawe.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxxxix. He that to hir worschipping Myght ought auaile.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. xiii. (Arb.), 45. Some perchance would thinke that next after the praise and honoring of their gods, should commence the worshippings and praise of good men.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., 77. For the dignities sake of religion, which cannot be liable to all base affronts, meerely for the worshiping of a civil mariage.
attrib. 1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., I. ii. This worshipping kinde of entertainment is a superstitious vanitie.
