reverence

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as for a holy being or place; the disposition to revere; veneration. [1913 Webster]

If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

Reverence, which is the synthesis of love and fear.— Coleridge.[1913 Webster]

When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government islost.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

Note: Formerly, as in Chaucer, reverence denoted "respect" "honor", without awe or fear. [1913 Webster]

2.The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an obeisance. [1913 Webster]

Make twenty reverences upon receiving . . . about twopence.— Goldsmith.[1913 Webster]

And each of them doeth all his diligence To do unto the feast reverence.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

3.That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state. [1913 Webster]

I am forced to lay my reverence by.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say. "Sir reverence."— Shak.[1913 Webster]

To do reverence, to show reverence or honor; to perform an act of reverence. [1913 Webster]

Now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Awe; honor; veneration; adoration; dread.

Usage: 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. [1913 Webster]

Let . . . the wife see that she reverence her husband. --Eph. v. 33. [1913 Webster]

Those that I reverence those I fear, the wise. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary