reverence
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
Noun edit
reverence (countable and uncountable, plural reverences)
- Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
- 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.
- August 2, 1758, Oliver Goldsmith, A Letter from a Traveller
- 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.
- A form of address for some members of the clergy.
- your reverence
- That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.
- 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- Thou hast so wrong'd mine innocent child and me
That I am forced to lay my reverence by.
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
- reverent (a)
- revere (v)
- reverently (adv)
- save-reverence, sir-reverence, saving your reverence
Translations edit
veneration; profound awe and respect
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act of showing respect
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state of being revered
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form of address
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Verb edit
reverence (third-person singular simple present reverences, present participle reverencing, simple past and past participle reverenced)
- (transitive) To show or feel reverence to.
Translations edit
to show reverence
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Middle French edit
Noun edit
reverence f (usually uncountable, plural reverences)