reverens Latin · revision 34196

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=57/46–12 BC, Propertius|origins=la vereor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈrɛ.wɛ.rẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈrɛː.ve.rens]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''reverēns''' (genitive reverentis, superlative reverentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the present participle [[der|la|revereor|t=to stand in awe of, respect]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Conte 2010) That verb is made from [[m|la|re-]] and [[m|la|vereor|t=to fear, respect]].^(OLD 2012)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan traces the simple verb to [[itc-pro|*wer-ē-|t=to be wary]] and [[ine-pro|*u(e)r-eh1-|t=to note, sense]], and compares [[ang|wær|t=careful, attentive]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Propertius,^(Köbler 2010) who applies it to the faces (''ora'') of the Muses: the OLD reads it there as “reverent”, Georges and Gaffiot as “modest”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means feeling or showing restraint before superiors, respectful, [[m|en|deferential]], also of speech and actions, and reverent towards the gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Tacitus has ''sermo erga patrem reverens'', a speech respectful towards a father;^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Suetonius says of Caligula that he was no more respectful towards the senate;^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Younger has ''reverentissimus mei'', most respectful towards me, and Apuleius ''parentum reverens'', respectful of her parents.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) Pliny the Elder apparently uses the comparative of people who are apprehensive.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In a passive sense it means worthy of respect, [[m|en|venerable]]: Florus calls the name ''Augustus'' ''reverentius''.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) The superlative ''reverentissimus'' became a title of honour in late inscriptions and in Ecclesiastical Latin,^(Georges 1913) and in British medieval Latin it is addressed to kings, bishops, abbots and abbesses.^(DMLBS) English borrowed it, partly through French, as [[m|en|reverent]], first “inspiring respect” in the late 14th century and “feeling reverence” in the late 15th.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of the faces of the Muses.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses the comparative of apprehensive people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of Caligula's conduct towards the senate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus has ''sermo erga patrem reverens''.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|reverent]] first means “inspiring respect”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|respectful|alt=Respectful]], deferential (towards superiors); of speech and actions.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+ # [[m|en|reverent|alt=Reverent]] (towards the gods); ''(poetic)'' modest.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Uneasy, apprehensive.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Worthy of respect, venerable.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Late and Medieval Latin, superlative)'' Most reverend, as a title of kings, bishops and abbots.^(Georges 1913)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[revereor]]

+ * [[reverentia]]

+ * [[vereor]]

+ * [[en|reverent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}