Definition of: venerate

(ven′ə·rāt) v.t. ·at·ed, ·at·ing
To look upon or regard with respect and deference; revere. [<L veneratus, pp. of venerari revere] Synonyms: adore, honor, respect, revere, reverence. In the highest sense, to revere or reverence is to hold in mingled love and honor with something of sacred fear; to revere is a wholly spiritual act; to reverence is often, but not necessarily, to give outward expression to the reverential feeling; we revere or reverence the divine majesty. Revere is a stronger word than reverence or venerate. To venerate is to hold in exalted honor without fear, and is applied to objects less removed from ourselves than those we revere, being said especially of aged persons, of places or objects having sacred associations, and of abstractions; we venerate an aged friend or some great cause, as that of civil or religious liberty; we do not venerate God, but revere or reverence him. We adore with a humble yet free outflowing of soul. See ADMIRE, DEFER. Antonyms: contemn, despise, disdain, dishonor, disregard, scorn, slight, spurn.