reverend

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /ˈrɛvərənd/ UK /ˈrɛvərənd/ See IPA manual

adj noun

Meanings

1

adj
worthy of deep respect; used as a title for a member of the clergy

The reverend gentleman addressed the congregation warmly.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · worthy of deep respect;... venerable reverent honorable clergyman minister cleric

Word family

Related forms revere reverence reverent revered

Etymology

From Latin reverendus ('worthy of respect'), the gerundive of revereri ('to stand in awe of'), from re- (intensive) + vereri ('to fear, respect').

reverendus Latin vereri Latin

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People & Society

# reverend

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈrɛvərənd
**IPA (UK):** ˈrɛvərənd

## Meanings
1. worthy of deep respect; used as a title for a member of the clergy

## Examples
- The reverend gentleman addressed the congregation warmly.

## Synonyms
- venerable
- reverent
- honorable
- clergyman
- minister
- cleric

## Related Forms
- revere
- reverence
- reverent
- revered

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: reverendus
- Root: vereri

## Etymology
From Latin reverendus ('worthy of respect'), the gerundive of revereri ('to stand in awe of'), from re- (intensive) + vereri ('to fear, respect').

## AI Etymology
Reverend comes from Latin reverendus ('worthy of respect'), the gerundive of revereri ('to stand in awe of'), from re- (intensive) + vereri ('to fear, respect'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective and noun, it carries the sense "worthy of deep respect; used as a title for a member of the clergy", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin reverendus and Latin vereri. Related words include revere, reverence, reverent, revered.

## Topics
- People & Society

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reverend

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