Worshipful

The Anglo Saxon weorth was something honorable, deserving of respect, a meaning that shows up in worth, the value of anything, also in worship, which is deference paid to some object or person of great importance. Worshipful describes something full of the qualities calling for such deference. It was used in Medieval times of one's parents, officers of the state, prelates, etc., signifying that such persons were of high station or entitled to deferential respect. It is so used in our term, "Worshipful Master" in French "Vénérable Maitre", in Portuguese "Venerável Mestre". Although sometimes the designation may be identified to the reverence we pay to the diety that comparation is, mostly, misleading. It is a sign of respect and consideration. Adapted from MacKeys Encyclopedia.