reverence

/ˈrev-rən(t)s/

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens "respectful, reverent-ia

noun

  1. honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect

  2. a gesture of respect (such as a bow)

  3. the state of being revered

honor homage reverence deference mean respect and esteem shown to another. honor may apply to the recognition of one's right to great respect or to any expression of such recognition. homage adds the implication of accompanying praise.

verb

  1. to regard or treat with reverence

revere reverence venerate worship adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling. reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

noun

  1. —used as an expression of apology before a statement that might be taken as offensive

  2. human feces; also : a lump of human feces