reverence

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See also: révérence

English

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Etymology

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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

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

Noun

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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.
    • 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

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Derived terms

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Translations

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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.

Verb

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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

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Middle French

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Noun

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reverence f (usually uncountable, plural reverences)

  1. respect