reverend
/ˈɹɛvɹənd/ adjective, noun
Forms reverends reuerend
- adjective Worthy of reverence or respect. “The reverend doctor will enlighten us with a lecture on the germ theory.”
- adjective Showing or granting reverence or respect.
- adjective (Western Pennsylvania) Extreme, extraordinary, or powerful.
- noun A member of the Christian clergy; a minister. “The esteemed reverend will enlighten us with a sermon on reconciliation.”
- noun (Christianity) A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Christian clergy.
Synonyms
reverable estimable praiseworthy admirable allowable commendable creditable glorious honorable laudable respectable valuable venerable worthy revered esteemed reverent Rev. Revd. Revd clergyman man of the cloth sublime
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French révérend, from Old French, from Latin future passive participle reverendus (“that is to be respected”), from deponent verb revereor (“to honor, revere”).
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “reverend”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details