[a. L. cultus (u- stem) cultivation, tending, culture, adoration, f. ppl. stem of colĕre: see CULT.]
† 1. Worship; = CULT sb. 1. Obs.
1640. R. Baillie, Canterb. Self-Convict., 49. To give to it [the altar] any religious worship, any cultus,… any adoration, they do detest it, as palpable idolatrie.
2. An organized system of religious worship or ceremonial; also transf.; = CULT sb. 2, 3.
1838. Emerson, Addr. Cambridge, Mass., Wks. (Bohn), II. 194. As the Cultus, or established worship of the civilized world, it has great historical interest.
1846. De Quincey, Christianity as Org. Pol. Movem., Wks. XII. 253. There was a cultus, or ceremonial worship: that constituted the sum-total of religion in the idea of a Pagan.
1865. Pusey, Eiren., 181. That portion of the Roman Church, which is most devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin, is most persuaded of the personal infallibility of the Pope.
