Venerari

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To regard with deep respect or reverence, often used in a religious or spiritual context
2. To show adoration or honor towards someone or something revered
3. To worship or hold something in high esteem, signifying profound respect and devotion

Etymology: Venerari is a Latin verb, the deponent form of the verb "venerare", which means to worship, revere or hold in deep respect. Its root is "venus" in the sense of "charm" or "desire", not the goddess herself, though the Romans did link the two. The same root gives English "venerable", "veneration" and "venerate", all of which passed into English from Latin and French, and the sense of respect grew out of the idea of something worthy of desire or admiration. The verb is deponent, which means it takes passive endings but an active meaning. A Roman would write "venerari deos" to mean "to worship the gods", with the grammatical form looking passive even though the verb is active in sense. That mismatch is why grammar books list it among the deponents, verbs whose form and meaning do not line up.

Synonyms: revere, worship, honor, respect

Antonyms: despise, disrespect, disdain