venerable
/ˈvɛn(ə)rəb(ə)l
/adjective
1Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character: a venerable statesman...
- This last factor will weigh particularly heavily with Egypt's Mubarak, now the venerable elder statesman of the Arab world.
- The venerable A-level celebrates its 54th birthday this year.
- Rather than impose preconceived plans on a venerable company with a distinct culture, he's going to listen first.
Synonyms
respected, venerated, revered, reverenced, worshipped, honoured, esteemed, hallowed, august, distinguished, acclaimed, celebrated, lionized;
renowned, illustrious, glorious, legendary, famed, eminent, pre-eminent, great, elevated, prominent, notable, noted;
respectable, reputable, decent, honourable, worthy, exemplary
1.1(In the Anglican Church) a title given to an archdeacon.The nuptial ceremony was performed by the venerable archdeacon John Murray assisted by Dean Timothy O'Connor PP....
- The venerable church father approached the Bible as if he were sitting down to a beautifully presented, sumptuous banquet feast.
- Leading the charge against Graham was none other than Reinhold Niebuhr, the venerable professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
1.2(In the Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a deceased person who has attained a certain degree of sanctity but has not been fully beatified or canonized.By then, the venerable Ron Newman had given way to former U.S. national team coach Bob Gansler, but the Wizards woes continued....
- Lee Petty, the venerable patriarch, died on April 5 at age 86 of complications from a stomach aneurysm.
- The first stage is where a person is declared a Servant of God, the next is where the Church declares a person venerable.
Derivatives
venerability
- I mean such things as nobility, venerability, solemnity.
- However, the concept's very venerability has also generated arguments that criticism should move beyond it - or that literature already has.
- Hayek wanted to provide a reason for respecting traditions that went beyond acceptance of them merely on account of their Burkean venerability.
venerableness
- The ages of these veterans ranged from fifty-nine up to the patriarchal venerableness of nearly ninety.
- And about its simplicity, majesty, gravity, harmony, and venerableness, there can be but one opinion.
- History has neither the venerableness of antiquity, nor the freshness of the modern.
venerably
- Born in 1961, Unsuk Chin is a relative youngster compared to Boulez, who is now (venerably) in his eighties.
- While it won't suit every need for recording guitar in my home studio, it performs venerably in most cases.
- In fact there is no other handy appellation that so venerably distinguishes a birthday.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin venerabilis, from the verb venerari (see venerate).
- nightmared
- nightmare-like
- nightmare scenario
- nightmarish
- nightmarishly
- night monkey
- night music
- nightness
- night night
- night nurse
- night office
- night of the long knives
- night op
- night operation
- night owl
- night paddock
- night parrot
- night partridge
- night-piece
- night porter
- night post
- night-rail
- night-raven
- night-rest
- nightrider