Reverence \Rev"er*ence\, n. [F. r['e]v['e]rence, 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; 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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