Theol. Also 7 latreia. [late L. latrīa, a. Gr. λατρεία service, service to God, divine worship, f. λατρεύ-ειν to serve, serve with prayer.] In Roman Catholic language: The supreme worship that is due to God alone (distinguished from DULIA and HYPERDULIA).
[1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 22952. Off this place, ffolkes alle, ‘Latrya’ they me calle. Myne offyce is moste in wakynge, To kepe the gate aboute the kynge.]
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 44 b. This latria is holy and due reuerence to god in prayers, vowes, tythes, othes and in the seruice of god.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 131. It is the common opinion in Spaine and Italy that Latria, or divine honor, is due to the Crosse. Ibid. (1645), Heresiogr. (ed. 2), 147. The Papists make two Degrees of Religious worship; the highest they call Latreia.
1845. Lingard, Anglo-Saxon Ch., II. x. 111. The worship of latria due to God only, and that of dulia, the respect which may justly be shewn to his creatures.
1859. I. Taylor, Logic in Theol., 225. What now becomes of the distinction between the dulia, and the hyper-dulia, and the latria?
Hence † Latrial, † Latrian adjs. rare, of the nature of latria.
1550. Bale, Apol., 141. They can make false Goddes, and gyve to them latryall honoure.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., II. vii. (1636), 68. The Romists say that they give to the Saints one kinde of worship, to wit, Dulian, and to God another and a greater, Latrian.
