See also: révérence

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English reverence (noun) and reverencen (verb), from Old French reverence and Latin reverentia, from Latin revereor (I stand in awe, respect, revere), from re- + vereor, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (to cover, heed, notice).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹɛv.ə.ɹəns/, /ˈɹɛv.ɹəns/
  • Hyphenation: rev‧er‧ence
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛvɹəns

Noun edit

reverence (countable and uncountable, plural reverences)

  1. Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
  2. An act of showing respect, such as a bow.
    • August 2, 1758, Oliver Goldsmith, A Letter from a Traveller
      Make twenty reverences upon receiving [] about twopence.
  3. The state of being revered.
    • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seditions and Troubles”, in The Essayes [], 3rd edition, London: [] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
      When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government is lost.
  4. A form of address for some members of the clergy.
    your reverence
  5. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb edit

reverence (third-person singular simple present reverences, present participle reverencing, simple past and past participle reverenced)

  1. (transitive) To show or feel reverence to.
    Synonyms: honour, venerate

Translations edit

Middle French edit

Noun edit

reverence f (usually uncountable, plural reverences)

  1. respect