Category:Reverence

Rev"er*ence, n. Etym: [f. révérence, l. reverentia. See reverent.]

1. Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as For a holy being or place; the disposition to revere; veneration. If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence. Chaucer. Reverence, which is the synthesis of love and fear. Coleridge. When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and Audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government islost. Bacon.

Note: formerly, as in chaucer, reverence denoted "respect" "honor", Without awe or fear.

2. The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an Obeisance. Make twenty reverences upon receiving. . . about twopence. Goldsmith. And each of them doeth all his diligence to do unto the feast Reverence. Chaucer.

3. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; Reverend character; dignity; state. I am forced to lay my reverence by. Shak.

4. A person entitled to be revered; -- a title applied to priests or Other ministers with the pronouns his or your; sometimes poetically To a father. Shak. Save your reverence, saving your reverence, an Apologetical phrase for an unseemly expression made in the presence Of a priest or clergyman. -- sir reverence, a contracted form of save your reverence. Such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say. "sir Reverence." Shak. -- to do reverence, to show reverence or honor; to perform an act of Reverence. Now lies he there, and none so poor to do him reverence. Shak.

Syn. -- awe; honor; veneration; adoratuon; dread. -- awe, reverence, dread, veneration. Reverence is a strong Sentiment of respect and esteem, sometimes mingled slightly with Fear; as, reverence for the divine law. Awe is a mixed feeling of Sublimity and dread in view of something great or terrible, sublime Or sacred; as, awe at the divine presence. It does not necessarily Imply love. Dread is an anxious fear in view of an impending evil; As, dread of punishment. Veneration is reverence in its strongest Manifestations. It is the highest emotion we can exercise toward Human beings. Exalted and noble objects produce reverence; terrific And threatening objects awaken dread; a sense of the divine presence Fills us with awe; a union of wisdom and virtue in one who is Advanced in years inspires us with veneration.

Reverence Rev"er*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reverenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Reverencing.]

Defn: to regard or treat with reverence; to regard with respect and Affection mingled with fear; to venerate. Let. . . the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph. v. 33. Those that i reverence those i fear, the wise. Shak.