reverence
Etymology

From Middle English reverence and reverencen, from Old French reverence and Latin reverentia, from Latin revereor, from re- + vereor, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer-.

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈɹɛv.ə.ɹəns/, /ˈɹɛv.ɹəns/
Noun

reverence

  1. Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
  2. An act of showing respect, such as a bow.
    • August 2, 1758, Oliver Goldsmith, A Letter from a Traveller
      Make twenty reverences upon receiving […] about twopence.
  3. The state of being revered.
    • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC ↗:
      When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government is lost.
  4. A form of address for some members of the clergy.
    your reverence
  5. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.
    • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene i]:
      Thou hast so wrong'd mine innocent child and me
      That I am forced to lay my reverence by.
Antonyms Translations Translations Translations Verb

reverence (reverences, present participle reverencing; simple past and past participle reverenced)

  1. (transitive) To show or feel reverence to.
    Synonyms: honour, venerate



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