- adore
- c.1300, "to pay divine honors to," from O.Fr. aourer "to adore, worship" (10c.), from L. adorare "speak to formally, beseech, ask in prayer," in L.L. "to worship," from ad- "to" + orare "speak formally, pray" (see orator). Meaning "to honor very highly" is attested from 1590s; weakened sense of "to be very fond of" emerged by 1880s.