Cult, which shares an origin with culture and cultivate, comes from the Latin cultus, a noun with meanings ranging from "tilling, cultivation" to "training or education" to "adoration." In English, cult has evolved a number of meanings following a fairly logical path. The earliest known uses of the word, recorded in the 17th century, broadly denoted "worship." From here cult came to refer to a specific branch of a religion or the rites and practices of that branch, as in "the cult of Dionysus." By the early 18th century, cult could refer to a non-religious admiration or devotion, such as to a person, idea, or fad ("the cult of success"). Finally, by the 19th century, the word came to be used of "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious."
She has developed a cult following. long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult
Recent Examples on the WebWhile not every style is available in extended sizes, many of Reformation’s cult-favorite dresses, trousers, and skirts go up to size 24. Lauren Caruso, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2022 That series has become something of a cult favorite in the land of sport bikes. Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2022 Chamberlain Coffee has quickly become a cult favorite among coffee drinkers, especially with Generation Z, given the brand’s wide variety of coffee and non-coffee products. Rachel King, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2022 The film became a cult favorite, with fans attending in costume and bringing props. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Moleskin's Pro Planner is a cult favorite in our roundup of the best planners. Brenda Stolyar, Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 From one iconic brand to another, Serendipity3 is paying tribute to Klondike’s cult favorite Choco Taco by featuring The Serendipity Golden Taco on their menu exclusively for one day only, priced at a whopping $100. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 Because of the small-batch nature of the winery—the vineyard produces just 500 cases per year—the label has become a cult favorite among wine collectors as well with bottles fetching anywhere from $148 to $625. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 29 July 2022 There’s a reason why Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye line is a cult favorite among fitness lovers. Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate — more at wheel