Rev·er·ence n.
 1. Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as for a holy being or place; the disposition to revere; veneration.
    If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence.   --Chaucer.
    Reverence, which is the synthesis of love and fear.   --Coleridge.
    When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are carried openly and audaciously, it is a sign the reverence of government islost.   --Bacon.
 Note: ☞ Formerly, as in Chaucer, reverence denoted “respect” “honor”, without awe or fear.
 2. The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an obeisance.
    Make twenty reverences upon receiving . . . about twopence.   --Goldsmith.
 And each of them doeth all his diligence
 To do unto the feast reverence.   --Chaucer.
 3. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.
    I am forced to lay my reverence by.   --Shak.
 4. A person entitled to be revered; -- a title applied to priests or other ministers with the pronouns his or your; sometimes poetically to a father.
 Save your reverence, Saving your reverence, an apologetical phrase for an unseemly expression made in the presence of a priest or clergyman.
 Sir reverence, a contracted form of Save your reverence.
    Such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say. =\“Sir reverence.”\=   --Shak.
 -- To do reverence, to show reverence or honor; to perform an act of reverence.
 Now lies he there,
 And none so poor to do him reverence.   --Shak.
 Syn: -- Awe; honor; veneration; adoration; dread.
 Usage: -- Awe, Reverence, Dread, Veneration. Reverence is a strong sentiment of respect and esteem, sometimes mingled slightly with fear; as, reverence for the divine law. Awe is a mixed feeling of sublimity and dread in view of something great or terrible, sublime or sacred; as, awe at the divine presence. It does not necessarily imply love. Dread is an anxious fear in view of an impending evil; as, dread of punishment. Veneration is reverence in its strongest manifestations. It is the highest emotion we can exercise toward human beings. Exalted and noble objects produce reverence; terrific and threatening objects awaken dread; a sense of the divine presence fills us with awe; a union of wisdom and virtue in one who is advanced in years inspires us with veneration.