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A wise man; a man of gravity and wisdom; especially, a man venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave philosopher. At his birth a star, Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him come, And guides the Eastern sages. Milton.

To impart or impute sacredness, venerableness, inviolability, title to reverence and respect, or the like, to; to secure from violation; to give sanction to. The holy man, amazed at what he saw, Made haste to sanctify the bliss by law. Dryden. Truth guards the poet, sanctifies the line. Pope.

Having a history; interesting from the stories which pertain to it; venerable from the associations of the past. Some greedy minion, or imperious wife, The trophied arches, storied halls, invade. Pope. Can storied urn, or animated bust, Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath Gray.

Honored for a long time; venerable, and worthy of honor, by reason of antiquity, or long continuance.

The quality or state of being venerable; venerableness. Dr. H. More.

Venerable from antiquity; ancient; old. [Obs.]