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reverent

[rev-er-uh nt, rev-ruh nt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reverent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful: a reverent greeting.

RELATED WORDS

warmly, passionately, respectfully, zealously, earnestly, longingly, affectionately, admiringly, fondly, generously, kindly, loyally, adoringly, appreciatively, ardently, attentively, considerately, devotedly, endearingly, fervently

Origin of reverent

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin reverent- (stem of reverēns), present participle of reverērī to revere1; see -ent
Related formsrev·er·ent·ly, adverbrev·er·ent·ness, nounnon·rev·er·ent, adjectivenon·rev·er·ent·ly, adverbself-rev·er·ent, adjectiveun·rev·er·ent, adjectiveun·rev·er·ent·ly, adverb
Can be confusedreverend reverent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reverently

Contemporary Examples of reverently

  • There is a sign urging quiet, so you approach slowly and reverently, as you might an important tomb.

    The Daily Beast logo
    My Visit To Hell

    Christopher Buckley

    January 30, 2009

Historical Examples of reverently

  • He arose, as he spoke, and reverently placed the chaplet on the head of Plato.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • I laid it reverently on the washhand-stand, as a heart should be laid on an altar.

    It Happened in Egypt

    C. N. Williamson

  • At the door he turned, took her hand and kissed it gently and reverently.

  • These things we have passed by reverently, as symbols of a people's trust in its kind.

    The Forest

    Stewart Edward White

  • Goring and I picked him reverently up and laid him on his bed.

British Dictionary definitions for reverently

reverent

adjective

feeling, expressing, or characterized by reverence
Derived Formsreverently, adverbreverentness, noun

Word Origin for reverent

C14: from Latin reverēns respectful
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 reverently

reverent

adj.

late 14c., "reverend;" late 15c., "characterized by reverence, deeply respectful," from Old French reverent and directly from Latin reverentem (nominative reverens), present participle of revereri (see reverence). The sense of "reverend" was common 14c. through 17c. Related: Reverently.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper