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Synonyms

venerate

American  
[ven-uh-reyt] / ˈvɛn əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

venerated, venerating
  1. to regard or treat with reverence; revere.


venerate British  
/ ˈvɛnəˌreɪt /

verb

  1. to hold in deep respect; revere

  2. to honour in recognition of qualities of holiness, excellence, wisdom, etc

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unvenerated adjective
  • venerator noun

Etymology

Origin of venerate

1615–25; < Latin venerātus, past participle of venerārī to solicit the goodwill of (a god), worship, revere, verbal derivative of vener-, stem of venus, presumably in its original sense “desire”; Venus )

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.

"From the very beginning, since the time of the catacombs, Christians have venerated the bones of martyrs, the relics of martyrs, and they have never really experienced it as something macabre," Cesareo said.

From Barron's

“She is Our Lady of Guadalupe,” he tells me, a Marian apparition venerated as a national icon in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal

He has the cellphone number of the head of building maintenance—and he calls regularly for updates on fixes at the venerated cultural institution, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Much less familiar is Guglielmo of Malavalle, a twelfth century hermit venerated by the Augustinians for defeating a dragon using a simple wooden staff shaped like a pitchfork.

From Science Daily

Affectionate fans venerate the dialogue’s electric crackle and the cast’s peerless comedic timing.

From Salon