Esteeming

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

  1. To regard someone or something highly or favorably | To hold a person or idea in high regard and respect | To show a positive evaluation or appreciation of the worth of an individual or concept
  2. To maintain a favorable opinion of an individual or thing | To assign a significant value or respect to a person or notion | To demonstrate admiration and recognition of someone's or something's importance and merit
  3. To hold a person or concept in high regard and acknowledge their value and contributions

Etymology: The root of this verb lies in the noun "esteem," which entered English in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. "Esteem" itself derives from the Old French "estimer," meaning to value or rate, which came from Latin "aestimare," signifying to value or appraise. The Latin verb traces back to a Proto-Italic root related to "aestimare," carrying the idea of assessing worth or value. This lineage reflects a long-standing human concern with judging the merit or importance of people, objects, or ideas. By the time "esteem" became established in English, it was typically used to express respect or admiration, often in a social or moral sense. The verb form emerged naturally from the noun, enabling speakers to describe the act of valuing someone or something. Adding the suffix "-ing" to form the present participle or gerund simply follows a standard English pattern, creating a word that conveys the ongoing action of holding someone in high regard. The development of this verb highlights a subtle shift from the more concrete sense of "assessing value" to a more abstract, emotional sense of "holding in respect or affection." While "esteem" can still carry the idea of judgment or appraisal, it has come predominantly to mean positive regard rather than mere evaluation. This mirrors broader changes in English where many words evolved from tangible assessments to express intangible feelings and attitudes. Overall, this verb exemplifies how English builds new forms by attaching familiar endings to established roots, while the original Latin notion of valuation remains embedded in its essence. The process shows the language’s capacity to adapt inherited words to nuanced social and emotional contexts over centuries.

Synonyms: valuing, appreciating, regarding, honoring, respecting

Antonyms: disregarding, devaluing, belittling, disparaging, despising