praise

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration.
2. n. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.
3. n. Archaic A reason for praise; merit.
4. v. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.
5. v. To extol or exalt; worship.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To express approbation or admiration of; laud; applaud; eulogize; commend.
2. To extol in gratitude and devotion for blessings received; especially, to offer grateful homage to; worship; glorify.
3. To appraise; set a price upon; value.
4. Synonyms and Praise, Applaud, Extol, laud, eulogize, celebrate, exalt, bless. Praise is the general word; it is positive, but of varying degrees of strength. We praise, applaud, and extol by words written or spoken; we may applaud also by clapping the hands or by other physical demonstrations of approbation. To extol is to praise very highly, generally at some length. See eulogy.
5. n. The expression of approbation or esteem because of some virtue, meritorious performance, or pleasing quality; bestowal of commendation or admiration for something excellent or beautiful; laudation; applause.
6. n. The expression of any opinion, whether in commendation or otherwise; hence, fame; reputation.
7. n. The expression of love and gratitude for benefits received; devotion with thanksgiving; especially, a tribute of grateful homage to God.
8. n. A ground or reason for praise.
9. n. A subject for praise; a person or thing worthy to be praised.

Wiktionary

1. n. commendation; favorable representation in words.
2. n. worship.
3. v. To give praise to.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to laud; -- applied to a person or his acts.
2. v. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the excellence of; -- applied especially to the Divine Being.
3. v. obsolete To value; to appraise.
4. n. Commendation for worth; approval expressed; honor rendered because of excellence or worth; laudation; approbation.
5. n. Especially, the joyful tribute of gratitude or homage rendered to the Divine Being; the act of glorifying or extolling the Creator; worship, particularly worship by song, distinction from prayer and other acts of worship.
6. n. The object, ground, or reason of praise.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an expression of approval and commendation
2. n. offering words of homage as an act of worship
3. v. express approval of