-olatry, -latry, -olater-, -later, -olatress, -latress, -olatria, -olatrous, -latrous

(Greek: worship; excessively, fanatically devoted to someone or something; “service paid to the gods”)

Yet, if he would, man cannot live all to this world. If not religious, he will be superstitious. If he worships not the true God, he will have his idols.

—Theodore Parker
vexillatry, vexillolatry (s) (noun); vexillatries, vexillolatries (pl)
1. The worship of a ensign as a fetish or sacred object: The ancient group of vexilatries met to pay homage to the standard of their country and to pray to their gods that it would protect their warriors during battles and to provide them with victories over their enemies.
2. Etymology: from Latin vexil, "flag" + -latgry, "worship".
zoolater (s) (noun), zoolaters (pl)
Someone who either worships or gives excessive attention to animals: Jack's uncle loved animals more than people, so he never married, was a zoolater, and practiced zoolatry.
zoolatrous (adjective), more zoolatrous, most zoolatrous
Concerning the worship or excessive attention to animals: Mary was totally devoted to her cat, and her parents thought that she behaved in quite a zoolatrous manner.
Woman is overly devoted to her dog.
Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.
zoolatry (s) (noun) (no pl)
1. In some ancient cultures, the worshiping of animals: In times long past, people idolized animals as being embodiments of specific deities or as symbols of certain natural forces, and this total devotion was known as zoolatry.
2. Excessive attachment to animals, especially of domestic pets: Audrey and her sister dedicated all of their time to their horses, and their family decided that they were practicing zoolatry!

Related religious-word units: church; dei-, div-; ecclesi-; fanati-; hiero-; idol-; theo-; zelo-.