henotheism

[ hen-uh-thee-iz-uhm ]

/ ˈhɛn ə θiˌɪz əm /

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noun

the worship of a particular god, as by a family or tribe, without disbelieving in the existence of others.

ascription of supreme divine attributes to whichever one of several gods is addressed at the time.

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Origin of henotheism

1855–60; <Greek heno-, combining form of hén one (neuter of heîs) + theism

OTHER WORDS FROM henotheism

hen·o·the·ist, nounhen·o·the·is·tic, adjective

Words nearby henotheism

hen night, hennin, Henoch, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, hen of the woods, henotheism, hen party, henpeck, henpecked, Henri, henrietta

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use henotheism in a sentence

There was no henotheism, no worship of several single supreme deities: One only was supreme.
Moon Lore|Timothy Harley
It marks the highest point to which the Hebrew race attained in its progress from henotheism to monotheism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2|Various
It would thus appear almost as if all gods are one god to Mr. Frazer by a kind of scientific 'Henotheism.'
Magic and Religion|Andrew Lang
Henotheism, a polytheism which assigns to one god of the pantheon superiority over the rest.
The Nuttall Encyclopaedia|Edited by Rev. James Wood

In contrast with 'henotheism' or 'monolatry,' such as the worship of the early Hebrews.
Outspoken Essays|William Ralph Inge

British Dictionary definitions for henotheism

henotheism

/ (ˈhɛnəʊθiːˌɪzəm) /

noun

the worship of one deity (of several) as the special god of one's family, clan, or tribe

Derived forms of henotheism

henotheist, nounhenotheistic, adjective

Word Origin for henotheism

C19: from Greek heis one + theos god

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012