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venerable

[ven-er-uh-buh l]
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adjective
  1. commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
  2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
  3. (of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: the venerable halls of the abbey.
  4. impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: a venerable oak tree.
  5. extremely old or obsolete; ancient: a venerable automobile.
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noun
  1. a venerable person.
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Origin of venerable

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā(rī) to venerate + -bilis -ble
Related formsven·er·a·bil·i·ty, ven·er·a·ble·ness, nounven·er·a·bly, adverbqua·si-ven·er·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-ven·er·a·bly, adverbun·ven·er·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·ven·er·a·ble, adjectiveun·ven·er·a·ble·ness, nounun·ven·er·a·bly, adverb
Can be confusedvenerable vulnerable
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for venerability

Historical Examples

  • What should one of his venerability be doing abroad at such an hour!

    The Title Market

    Emily Post

  • Joanna, like so many Americans, was thrilled at the aura of venerability and royal custom surrounding the estate.

    My Father, the Cat

    Henry Slesar

  • In morning, in deshabille, not all the venerability of its age can make it respectable.

British Dictionary definitions for venerability

venerable

adjective
  1. (esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
  2. (of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
  3. ancientvenerable tomes
  4. RC Church a title bestowed on a deceased person when the first stage of his canonization has been accomplished and his holiness has been recognized in a decree of the official Church
  5. Church of England a title given to an archdeacon
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Derived Formsvenerability or venerableness, nounvenerably, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Latin venerābilis, from venerārī to venerate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for venerability

venerable

adj.

early 15c., from Latin venerabilis, from venerari "to worship, revere" (see veneration). As a title, used in reference to ecclesiastics or those who had obtained the first degree of canonization.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper