Etymologically
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reverens

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈrɛ.wɛ.rẽːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈrɛː.ve.rens][1]

Forms

reverēns (genitive reverentis, superlative reverentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the present participle from Latin revereor (“to stand in awe of, respect”).[2][1][3] That verb is made from re- and vereor (“to fear, respect”).[2][4] De Vaan traces the simple verb to Proto-Italic *wer-ē- (“to be wary”) and Proto-Indo-European *u(e)r-eh1- (“to note, sense”), and compares Old English wær (“careful, attentive”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Propertius,[6] who applies it to the faces (ora) of the Muses: the OLD reads it there as “reverent”, Georges and Gaffiot as “modest”.[2][7][8]

Semantic evolution

It means feeling or showing restraint before superiors, respectful, deferential, also of speech and actions, and reverent towards the gods.[2][7] Tacitus has sermo erga patrem reverens, a speech respectful towards a father;[7][3] Suetonius says of Caligula that he was no more respectful towards the senate;[2] Pliny the Younger has reverentissimus mei, most respectful towards me, and Apuleius parentum reverens, respectful of her parents.[8][3] Pliny the Elder apparently uses the comparative of people who are apprehensive.[2]

In a passive sense it means worthy of respect, venerable: Florus calls the name Augustus reverentius.[7][8][3] The superlative reverentissimus became a title of honour in late inscriptions and in Ecclesiastical Latin,[7] and in British medieval Latin it is addressed to kings, bishops, abbots and abbesses.[9] English borrowed it, partly through French, as reverent, first “inspiring respect” in the late 14th century and “feeling reverence” in the late 15th.[10]

Timeline

  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of the faces of the Muses.[2][7][6]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses the comparative of apprehensive people.[2][6]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of Caligula's conduct towards the senate.[2][6]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus has sermo erga patrem reverens.[7][3][6]
  • late 14th century – English reverent first means “inspiring respect”.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Respectful, deferential (towards superiors); of speech and actions.[2][7][3]
  2. Reverent (towards the gods); (poetic) modest.[2][7][8]
  3. Uneasy, apprehensive.[2]
  4. Worthy of respect, venerable.[7][8][3]
  5. (Late and Medieval Latin, superlative) Most reverend, as a title of kings, bishops and abbots.[7][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  9. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com