Reverence
/ˈrevərəns/
Definitions
2 meaningsProfound respect, often mixed with love and awe.
/ˈrevərəns/
Deep respect and admiration for someone or something.
The students listened with reverence to the wise old professor.
💡 Simply: Reverence is like when you look up to someone and respect them a lot, maybe because they're wise, kind, or did something amazing. Like how we look at our elders or heroes!
👶 For kids: Feeling of respect and love for someone or something special.
More Examples
The museum displayed the ancient artifacts with great reverence.
She held her grandmother in deep reverence.
How It's Used
"The congregation showed reverence for their religious leader."
"Historians have great reverence for primary sources."
"Many cultures show reverence for their ancestors."
To hold in deep respect and admiration, often bordering on worship or awe.
/ˈrevəˌrens/
To show deep respect and admiration for something or someone.
The community revered their local hero.
💡 Simply: To revere is to look up to someone or something so much that you show it by your actions. Think of people who revere musicians or historical figures.
👶 For kids: To show a lot of love and respect for something.
More Examples
Many cultures revere their ancestors.
She revered her mentors' knowledge.
How It's Used
"They revered their deity through prayer and offerings."
"The poet revered the beauty of nature."
Idioms & expressions
with all due reverence
A polite way of expressing respect or acknowledging the importance of something, often used before a statement that might seem critical or disrespectful.
"With all due reverence to the author, I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic."
From Old French *reverence*, from Latin *reverentia*, from *revereri* ('to revere', 'to respect'), from *re-* ('again') + *vereri* ('to fear', 'to respect').
The term 'reverence' has been used since the Middle Ages, predominantly in religious and philosophical contexts, to indicate respect and adoration for divine entities or figures.
Memory tip
Think of 're-viewing' someone with intense respect, like you're re-seeing their worth.
Word Origin
"to fear, to respect"