Adore (2 syl.)

means to “carry to one’s mouth” “to kiss” (ad-os, adorāre). The Romans performed adoration by placing their right hand on their mouth and bowing. The Greeks paid adoration to kings by putting the royal robe to their lips. The Jews kissed in homage: thus God said to Elijah he had 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed unto Baal, “every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings xix. 18; see also Hos. xiii. 2). “Kiss the Son lest He be angry” (Psalm ii. 12), means worship, reverence the Son. Even in England we do homage by kissing the hand of the sovereign.