venerable
Americanadjective
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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.
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a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
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(of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations.
the venerable halls of the abbey.
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impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc..
a venerable oak tree.
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extremely old or obsolete; ancient.
a venerable automobile.
noun
adjective
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(esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
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(of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
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ancient
venerable tomes
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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
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Church of England a title given to an archdeacon
Other Word Forms
- quasi-venerable adjective
- quasi-venerably adverb
- unvenerability noun
- unvenerable adjective
- unvenerableness noun
- unvenerably adverb
- venerability noun
- venerableness noun
- venerably adverb
Etymology
Origin of venerable
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā ( rī ) to venerate + -bilis -ble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What will June bring at the venerable but capricious Long Island venue?
From BBC
The Rose Bowl has been downgraded from college football’s most venerable game to a disruption?
From Los Angeles Times
They formed this collective in 2024 at the behest of Don Was, Blue Note’s president, to mark the 85th anniversary of the label, which is as venerable as any in jazz.
Even the most venerable of traditions is subject to adjustments.
From Los Angeles Times
Even the venerable Dieter Ruehle posted a video of him playing the trumpet solo on the keyboard.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
