Definition

Noun: - The worship of trees: The religious veneration, adoration, or ritual practice directed toward trees, often considering them as sacred, inhabited by spirits, or directly as deities.

Usage

• This term is used in anthropological, religious, and historical contexts to describe specific animistic or nature-based spiritual practices.
• It functions as a compound noun. The concept is typically treated as an uncountable noun referring to the practice or tradition as a whole.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The ancient religion involved tree-worship, with specific groves considered holy sites.
  • Anthropologists have studied forms of tree-worship in various indigenous cultures.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically in literary or critical contexts to describe an intense, almost religious reverence for trees or nature.
  • His dedication to preserving the old forest bordered on tree-worship.

Variants and Related Words

• Dendrolatry: (noun) A more formal, technical synonym for tree-worship, derived from Greek roots ( = tree, = worship).
• Animism: (noun) A broader religious concept involving the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence, which can encompass tree-worship.
• Nature worship: (noun) A general term for the veneration of natural phenomena, including trees, mountains, and rivers.

Synonyms

• Dendrolatry
• Arborolatry (less common)

Notes on Meaning

• Tree-worship is a specific form of nature worship. It is distinct from simply appreciating or protecting trees; it implies a ritualistic or devotional component.
• The practice is historically associated with pagan, pre-Christian, and various indigenous spiritual traditions.

Noun

1. the worship of trees