reverend English · revision 39909

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1389|origins=la vereor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɹɛvɹənd/, /ˈɹɛvəɹənd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|reverend]], from [[xno|reverend]] and Middle French [[m|frm|reverend]], and directly [[bor|la|reverendus|t=to be respected, venerable]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) the gerundive of [[m|la|revereor|t=to stand in awe of, revere]].^(AHD 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002) The Latin verb is formed from [[m|la|re-]], here perhaps an intensive, and [[m|la|vereor|t=to fear, respect]],^(Etymonline) the source also of [[revere]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024) In Old French the adjective is recorded from the 13th century, often as a title of a bishop or another senior cleric, as in [[m|fro|reverend pere]];^(OED 2026) the Anglo-Norman Dictionary has it from 1298, glossed "venerable", and as a title for a bishop in the phrase “Reverend Father”.^(AND) Etymonline notes that the form [[reverent]] was also used in this sense in late Middle English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a respectful epithet for members of the clergy: 1389, in a Scottish document printed among the Wemyss family papers,^(OED 2026) where the OED's revised entry antedates Barnhart's 1428.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates the adjective, "worthy of deep respect", to the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was at first an honorific adjective, used before or after a clergyman's name or in addressing him ("reverend father"),^(OED 2026) and it was used from 1422 also in courteous address to laymen, a use that died out in the 19th century.^(OED 2026) From about 1440 it described any person venerable for age, character or rank, a use now somewhat archaic;^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) it was applied to things and places inspiring reverence from 1443.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) gave as its first sense "venerable; deserving reverence", and as its second "the honorary epithet of the clergy".^(Johnson 1755) As a title prefixed to a clergyman's name it is recorded from 1579, at first for a particularly respected divine;^(OED 2026) its general use dates from the 1640s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The graded titles ''Most Reverend'', ''Right Reverend'' and ''Very Reverend'' date from 1681,^(OED 2026) and are used of archbishops, bishops and deans.^(Etymonline) The short form ''Revd'' is recorded from the 1690s, ''Rev'' from 1721.^(Etymonline) The noun, a clergyman, appears in 1547 according to the OED and Merriam-Webster,^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) about 1500 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) In Lincolnshire, East Anglia and Dorset ''our Reverend'' or ''the Reverend'' was the parish clergyman.^(Wright 1898) In American regional speech ''reverend'' could also mean strong or undiluted, of liquor, from 1826.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1389 – a respectful epithet for a member of the clergy.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1422 – a courteous form of address (now obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1428 – Barnhart's first example of the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1440 – of a person, venerable.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1547 – noun, a member of the clergy.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1579 – used before a name as a title.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1681 – ''Most Reverend'', ''Right Reverend'', ''Very Reverend''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1721 – the short form ''Rev''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1826 – (US regional) strong, undiluted.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # A [[title]] of respect for a member of the [[clergy]], usually written with a capital and abbreviated ''Rev'' or ''Revd'': ''the Reverend Anne Hughes''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of or relating to the clergy.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (archaic) Deserving [[reverence]]; [[venerable]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # (informal) A member of the clergy; a [[minister]] or [[priest]]: ''The reverend called round on Sunday.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reverendship]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[revere]]

+ * [[reverence]]

+ * [[reverent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Collins regards ''Reverend'' with a surname alone (''Reverend Jones''), as a form of address on its own, and in a letter's salutation as generally incorrect, preferring forms such as ''the Reverend Peter Jones'' or ''Reverend Mr Jones''.^(Collins 2023) Dictionary.com lists ''reverend'' (worthy of reverence) and [[reverent]] (feeling or showing reverence) among words that are easily confused.^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}