| 释义 |
cult
\ˈkəlt\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, cultivation, culture, adoration, from cultus, past participle of colere to till, cultivate, dwell, inhabit, worship — more at wheel
1. : religious practice : worship
2. : a system of beliefs and ritual connected with the worship of a deity, a spirit, or a group of deities or spirits
< the cult of Apollo >
< the earth cult >
3.
a. : the rites, ceremonies, and practices of a religion : the formal aspect of religious experience
< dissent occurs in all three fields of expression of religious experience, in doctrine, in cult, and organization — Joachim Wach >
b. Roman Catholicism : reverence and ceremonial veneration paid to God or to the Virgin Mary or to the saints or to objects that symbolize or otherwise represent them (as the crucifix or a statue) — called also cultus; compare dulia, hyperdulia, latria
4. : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious
< the exuberant growth of fantastic cults >
also : a minority religious group holding beliefs regarded as unorthodox or spurious : sect
< provided a haven for persecuted cults >
5. : a system for the cure of disease based on the dogma, tenets, or principles set forth by its promulgator to the exclusion of scientific experience or demonstration
6.
a. : great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing
< the cult of success >
especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad or fetish
< the cult of art-for-art's sake >
b. : the object of such devotion
< square dancing has developed into something of a cult — R.L.Taylor >
c.
(1) : a body of persons characterized by such devotion
< America's growing cult of home fixer uppers — Wall Street Journal >
(2) : a usually small or narrow circle of persons united by devotion or allegiance to some artistic or intellectual program, tendency, or figure (as one of limited popular appeal)
< the exclusive cult of those that profess to admire his esoteric verse >
Synonyms: see religion |