basileolatry

Etymology

Ancient Greek βασιλε(ύς) (basile(ús), “king”) + English -latry (from the Ancient Greek λατρεία (latreía), latreia, “worship”); compare basilean, basileiolatry, and basilolatry

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: băsĭlĭŏʹlətri, IPA^(key): /basɪlɪˈɒlətɹi/

Noun

basileolatry (uncountable)

1. (rare) basileiolatry
   • 1850, Dr Augustus Neander [aut.] and Joseph Torrey [tr.], General History of the Christian Religion and Church III, page xvii

     Against the Byzantine Basileolatry.

   • 1938, Robert Briffault, The Decline and Fall of the British Empire, pages 114–115

     Before the Reform Bill anything resembling the neurosis of English Basileolatry was even more completely unknown.

   • 2011 May 15th, “David”, alt.talk.royalty, “Re: New Scottish Government Affirm First Loyalty is to People of Scotland!”, message 8

     If Ludovicus intends to mean “worship paid to a king in the manner of a god”…then he should know that (1) the constructive stem of the Latin word for “king” (rex) is reg-, not regio- (regius means “royal”; regia is a palace or royal court); and (2) since -latry comes from Greek -latreia, the first part of the compound should be Greek as well – presumably **basileolatry.