venerate

[ven-uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

venerated, venerating 

1. to regard or treat with reverence; revere.

venerate

/ ˈvɛnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to hold in deep respect; revere

2. to honour in recognition of qualities of holiness, excellence, wisdom, etc

Other Word Forms

• venerator noun
• unvenerated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of venerate¹

1615–25; < Latin venerātus, past participle of venerārī to solicit the goodwill of (a god), worship, revere, verbal derivative of vener-, stem of venus, presumably in its original sense “desire”; Venus )

Word History and Origins

Origin of venerate¹

C17: from Latin venerārī, from venus love

Example Sentences

This should matter to folks on the left and the right, to those who venerate higher education and those who vote in favor of states’ rights against federal overreach.

From Los Angeles Times

That sounds a lot like the way Carson lived, based on the way a 1978 New Yorker profile summed up the venerated host’s jovial froideur.

From Salon

For many Buddhists, the jewels are inseparable from the sacred remains and meant to be venerated, not sold.

From BBC

The bone relics have since been distributed to countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, where they continue to be venerated.

From BBC

Every piece by Mozart or Beethoven, every Viennese waltz, remains a venerated relic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cherish 
• esteem 
• exalt 
• hallow 
• idolize