Rev"er*ence (?), n. [F. révérence, 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.
⇒ 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; adoratuon; dread. -- 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.
© Webster 1913.
Rev"er*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reverenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Reverencing (?).]
To regard or treat with reverence; to regard with respect and affection mingled with fear; to venerate.
Let . . . the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Eph. v. 33.
Those that I reverence those I fear, the wise.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.