reverend

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: Rev=er=end

CIDE DICTIONARY

reverend, a. [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.].

 Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable.  [1913 Webster]
" This word is commonly given as a title of respect to ecclesiastics. A clergyman is styled the reverend; a dean, the very reverend; a bishop, the right reverend; an archbishop, the most reverend."  [1913 Webster]
"A reverend sire among them came."  [1913 Webster]
"They must give good example and reverend deportment in the face of their children."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

reverend, adj. & n.
--adj. (esp. as the title of a clergyman) deserving reverence.
--n. colloq. a clergyman.

Idiom

Most Reverend the title of an archbishop or an Irish Roman Catholic bishop. Reverend Mother the title of the Mother Superior of a convent. Right Reverend the title of a bishop. Very Reverend the title of a dean etc.

Etymology

ME f. OF reverend or L reverendus gerundive of revereri: see REVERE

THESAURUS

reverend

august, awe-inspiring, awesome, awful, churchman, cleric, clerk, creditable, divine, dreadful, ecclesiastic, esteemed, estimable, held in esteem, highly esteemed, highly regarded, highly reputed, highly respectable, honorable, honored, in favor, in good odor, in high favor, meritorious, minister, noble, patriarchal, preacher, prestigious, reputable, respectable, respected, revered, reverential, time-honored, venerable, venerated, well-thought-of, worshipful, worthy

ROGET THESAURUS

reverend

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.

Title

N title, honor, knighthood, highness, excellency, grace, lordship, worship, reverence, reverend, esquire, sir, master, Mr, signor, senor, Mein Herr, mynheer, your honor, his honor, serene highness, handle to one's name, decoration, laurel, palm, wreath, garland, bays, medal, ribbon, riband, blue ribbon, cordon, cross, crown, coronet, star, garter, feather, feather in one's cap, epaulet, epaulette, colors, cockade, livery, order, arms, shield, scutcheon, reward.