adore

present singular third person adores · participle present adoring · participle past adored · past adored

1. To worship.

   1758, Tobias Smollett, A Complete History of England, London: James Rivington and James Fletcher, 3rd edition, Volume 6, Book 8, “William III,” p. 29, [James] was met at the castle-gate by a procession of […] bishops and priests in their pontificals, bearing the host, which he publicly adored.

   2 more examples

   Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

   O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

   1852, Frederick Oakeley (translator), “O Come, All Ye Faithful” in Francis H. Murray, A Hymnal for Use in the English Church, Come and behold him Born the King of Angels

   Synonyms: exalt, praise, exalt, glorify, praise, worship · Antonyms: disdain

2. To love with one's entire heart and soul; regard with deep respect and affection.

   It is obvious to everyone that Gerry adores Heather.

   2 more examples

   The great mass of the population abhorred Popery and adored Monmouth.

   1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter V, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 388

   You pretend you're high / Pretend you're bored / Pretend you're anything / Just to be adored

   1996, “Stupid Girl”, performed by Garbage

   Synonyms: cherish, fancy, care for, cling to, cherish, dote, fancy, love · Antonyms: disdain

3. To be very fond of.

   1 more example

   "I ought to arise and go forth with timbrels and with dances; but, do you know, I am not inclined to revels? There has been a little—just a very little bit too much festivity so far …. Not that I don't adore dinners and gossip and dances; not that I do not love to pervade bright and glittering places.[…]"

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter II, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

4. obsoleteTo adorn.

   […] and likewise on her hed A Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore, From vnder which the deawy humour shed, Did tricle downe her haire, like to the hore Congealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   Synonyms: ornament, prettify, adorn, apparel, array, invest, detail, beautify