reverence

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English reverence,^[2] borrowed from Anglo-Norman reverence, also reverance,^[3][2] and partly borrowed from Latin reverentia (“awe, respect”),^[3][4][5][2] from reverēns (“revering”), the present participle of revereor (“to stand in awe of, respect”).^[3][6][7] The Latin verb is formed from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix, and vereor (“to stand in awe of, fear”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to perceive, watch out for”).^[4] The French word is recorded from the 12th century for deep respect.^[3] Its sense of a gesture of respect dates from the late 14th century.^[3] The Anglo-Norman noun, from the early 12th century, already meant respect, fear and an expression of respect, and was used in a phrase "saving your reverence".^[8] The verb is formed in Middle English from the noun;^[3][4][6] the Shorter Oxford takes it from reverencer.^[7] It is related to revere and reverent.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Deep respect felt or shown towards a person, or towards something sacred: about 1300, in the South English Legendary lives of Thomas Becket and Mary of Egypt.^[3] Etymonline dates the noun to the late 13th century, for honour and esteem heightened by awe.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English the word covered both respect for a person's rank and religious veneration, and the MED records it in greetings and salutations;^[2][3] Chaucer used it 76 times.^[9] From the late 14th century it also meant the state of being revered.^[4][3] From about 1400 it was also a bow or curtsy, a sense now archaic except in ballet.^[3] With a possessive it became a title of respect for a member of the clergy, recorded in Gower;^[4] Etymonline quotes the OED that this was latterly used mainly by the lower classes, especially in Ireland.^[4] In Irish English the form riverince was used for a priest, and in Scotland the word meant a respectful greeting.^[10] The apology saving your reverence, with all due respect, is recorded from the early 15th century.^[3] The verb, from about 1400 in Piers Plowman, first meant to bow to or honour a person, and then to regard as sacred, its main modern sense.^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 1300 – deep respect or veneration.^[3][4]
• before 1387 – the state of being revered.^[3][4]
• before 1393 – your reverence, a title for a clergyman, in Gower.^[4]
• c. 1400 – a bow or curtsy.^[3]
• c. 1400 – verb, to greet with deep respect; to regard as sacred.^[3]
• before 1425 – saving your reverence, with all due respect.^[3]
• 1548 – verb, to hold in deep respect.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A feeling or attitude of deep respect, often mixed with awe, especially for something sacred: They spoke of the old teacher with reverence.^[11][6][3]
2. An outward sign of such respect, especially a bow or curtsy.^[11][6][3]
3. The state of being deeply respected.^[11][3]
4. Your or His Reverence: a title used in speaking to or of a member of the clergy, especially a Roman Catholic priest.^[11][3]
5. (archaic) saving your reverence: with all due respect, as an apology before saying something offensive.^[11][3]

Verb

1. To regard or treat with deep respect or veneration: The villagers reverenced the old shrine.^[6][3][11]
2. (obsolete, c. 1400–1809) To greet with a bow or other gesture of respect.^[3][7]

Word family

• reverencer
• unreverenced

Related words

• revere
• reverent
• reverend
• irreverence

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
6. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
9. ^ Benson, Larry D., Glossarial Concordance to Middle English (Chaucer, Gower), Johns Hopkins University, github.com/jhu-digital-manuscripts/gcme
10. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)
11. ^ a b c d e f Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins