fire-worshiper

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person who worships or religiously venerates fire

   The chronicler described the priest as a fire-worshiper tending a perpetual sacred flame.

2. 2
   noun

   historical, often offensive or misleading: a name formerly applied to a Zoroastrian or Parsi because sacred fire is central to Zoroastrian ritual

   Modern historians avoid calling every Zoroastrian a fire-worshiper because the label misrepresents the role of sacred fire in the religion.

A compound of fire and worshiper, the agent noun of worship. Worship comes from Old English weorthscipe, 'worthiness, honor, or reverence.' Fire-worshiper has been used literally for a devotee of fire and historically as a label for Zoroastrians; the latter use is now often considered inaccurate or offensive. Fire-worshipper is the usual British spelling.

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