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

hennery, hen night, hennin, Henoch, hen of the woods, henotheism, hen party, henpeck, henpecked, Henri, henrietta

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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