the word 'worshipper' is a transparent english formation, combining the native english verb 'worship' with the agentive suffix '-er'. the core term 'worship' itself originates from old english 'weorþscipe', a compound of 'weorþ' (meaning 'worthy, valuable') and '-scipe' (a suffix forming nouns of state or condition, akin to modern '-ship'). its original sense was 'worthiness, honour, dignity accorded to a person'. the semantic evolution saw it shift from denoting the state of being worthy to the act of ascribing worth or honour, particularly to a divine being. the addition of the agent suffix '-er', a common germanic formation for denoting a person associated with an action, creates the straightforward meaning of 'one who performs worship'.

Structure: worship (to show reverence) + per (agent suffix) worship (from old english 'weorþscipe', meaning 'condition of being worthy, honour, dignity') + per (agent suffix, from old english '-ere', from proto-germanic -ārijaz, indicating a person who performs an action)