adorer

plural adorers

1. Someone who adores.
   1. Someone who worships.

      1582, Gregory Martin (translator), The New Testament of Jesus Christ, Translated Faithfully into English, Reims: John Fogny, John 4.23, p. 226, But the houre commeth, and now it is, when the true adorers shal adore the Father in spirit and veritie.

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      […] I in one Night freed / From servitude inglorious welnigh half / Th’ Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng / Of his adorers […]

      1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 140-143

      All men in the outset of the religion they profess are adorers of a God, and friends of man.

      1798, Thomas Paine, Atheism Refuted, London: J. Johnson, page 17

      Synonyms: adorator, devotee, worshipper

   2. Someone who has a deep admiration, fondness or love (of someone or something).

      […] I profess myself her adorer, not her friend.

      1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

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      I vvho profeſs my ſelf an Admirer, an Adorer of Reaſon, am obliged to ovvn, that in ſome Caſes the Sharpneſs of Ridicule can do more than the Strength of Argument.

      1732, George Berkeley, “The Sixth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. […], volume II, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, section XXXII, page 122

      When rival adorers come courting a maid, / There’s something or other may often be said, / Why he should be pitched upon rather than him. / This wasn’t the case with Old Paul and Old Tim.

      1871, W. S. Gilbert, “Old Paul and Old Tim”, in More “Bab” Ballads, London: Routledge, published 1892, page 164

      The funny thing was that all the envelopes were addressed in the same hand, in green or sometimes purple capitals. It was like one crazed adorer laying siege to Leo.

      2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 13, in The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN

      Synonyms: adorator, admirer