Monolatry
/məˈnɒl.ə.tri/noun
The worship of only one god while acknowledging the existence of others.
Did you know?The term was coined in modern scholarship from Greek roots, but the concept is important in the study of ancient religions where exclusive devotion and divine plurality could coexist.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μόνος (mónos)
“alone, single”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λατρεία (latreía)
“service, worship, religious devotion”
19th Century
English
monolatry
“the worship of one god without denying the existence of others”
Modern English
English
monolatry
“exclusive worship of one deity while accepting that other deities may exist”
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