reverence

American  

[rev-er-uhns, rev-ruhns] / ˈrɛv ər əns, ˈrɛv rəns /

noun

1. a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.

   Synonyms:

   esteem, honor

   Antonyms:

   contempt

2. the outward manifestation of this feeling.

   to pay reverence.

3. a gesture indicative of deep respect; an obeisance, bow, or curtsy.

4. the state of being revered, or treated with respect tinged with awe.

5. (initial capital letter) a title used in addressing or mentioning a member of the clergy (usually preceded by your orhis ).

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verb (used with object)

reverenced, reverencing

1. to regard or treat with reverence; venerate.

   One should reverence God and His laws.

   Synonyms:

   adore, honor, revere

reverence ¹ British  

/ ˈrɛvərəns /

noun

1. a feeling or attitude of profound respect, usually reserved for the sacred or divine; devoted veneration

2. an outward manifestation of this feeling, esp a bow or act of obeisance

3. the state of being revered or commanding profound respect

4. archaic a form of apology for using an obscene or taboo expression

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verb

1. (tr) to revere or venerate

Reverence ² British  

/ ˈrɛvərəns /

noun

1. (preceded by Your or His ) a title sometimes used to address or refer to a Roman Catholic priest

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Other Word Forms

• nonreverence noun
• reverencer noun
• self-reverence noun
• unreverenced adjective

Etymology

Origin of reverence

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin reverentia “respect, fear, awe”; equivalent to revere ¹ + -ence

Example Sentences

Her father was a politician, lawyer and judge, and from him she learned reverence for the law.

From The Wall Street Journal

Curiously, he notes, people have such reverence for these hypnotic streams of light that they duck to avoid disturbing them rather than crossing in front of them.

From Los Angeles Times

Like the members of Jelly of the Month Club, director Rob Perez is a multi-instrumentalist and producer with a deep reverence for classic rock and Charles Schulz cartoons.

From Los Angeles Times

He stared at the book with reverence, and as his eyes traced the handwritten letters, he realized it was his favorite story: “Sinchi and the Cliffs of Nowhere.”

From Literature

Contemporaries were convinced that his motivation for publishing Mansfield’s ephemera wasn’t so much reverence for her talent as greed for hard cash.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• admiration
• adoration
• awe
• deference
• devotion
• esteem
• loyalty
• piety
• respect
• veneration