revere, v.
(rɪˈvɪə(r))
[ad. F. révérer or L. reverērī, f. re- re- + verērī to fear.]
1. trans. To hold in, or regard with, deep respect or veneration.
| 1661 in Blount Glossogr. 1665 Glanvill Def. Van. Dogm. 53 If Aristotle were vicious and immoral, there is much the less reason why we should revere his Authority. 1691 Hartcliffe Virtues 137 Sudden Anger reveres or stands in awe of no Man. 1717 Pope Iliad ix. 754 Revere thy roof, and to thy guests be kind. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. liii. III. 174 The people..generally abhorred the Convocation as much as they revered the Parliament. 1837 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857) I. 213 Works which were long revered as a code of science. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. v. (1875) 68 For all..had heard of Rome's glories, and revered the name of Cæsar. |
| absol. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xvii, Tremble, therefore, and revere. 1848 Lytton Harold vii. v, The love that reveres. |
† 2. With
inf. To be reluctant
to do something, through a feeling of respect.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1689 Hickeringill Ceremony-Monger v, If I did not revere to cast Dirt upon the Ashes of the Dead, I could [etc.]. |
Hence
reˈvered ppl. a.| 1787 Burns Addr. to W. Tytler 1 Revered defender of beauteous Stuart. 1818 Shelley Hymn Earth 24 Such delights by thee Are given, rich Power, revered Divinity. 1836 Thirlwall Greece xxiv. III. 311 The treaties were..preserved in the most revered sanctuaries. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 327 As I was saying, revered friend, the abundance of your wisdom makes you indolent. |