Search the Dictionary

Marked or characterized by respect; as, respectful deportment. With humble joi and with respectful fear. Prior. -- Re*spect"ful*ly, adv. -- Re*spect"ful*ness, n.

Wanting in respect; manifesting disesteem or lack of respect; uncivil; as, disrespectful behavior. -- Dis`re*spect"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis`re*spect"ful*ness, n.

Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear. "Awless insolence." Dryden.

A respectful uncovering of the head. He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks. Fuller.

ing to prescribed or customary rules and forms; devoted to forms and ceremonies; formally respectful; punctilious. "Ceremonious phrases." Addison. Too ceremonious and traditional. Shak.

To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes.

To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to. Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. Bacon.

Showing want of respect; disrespectful. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Reverential or respectful fear; awe. The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth. Gen. ix. 2. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. Shak.

Controlled by, proceeding from, a sense of duty; respectful; deferential; as, dutiful affection.

A respectful mode of address to an old man. And Joash the king og Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and said, O my father, my father! 2 Kings xiii. 14.

Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth. I will put my fear in their hearts. Jer. xxxii. 40. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Ps. xxxiv. 11. render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear. Rom. xiii. 7.

To address respectfully with the term forsooth. [Obs.] The captain of the "Charles" had forsoothed her, though he knew her well enough and she him. Pepys.

A Mohammedan pilgrim to Mecca; -- used among Orientals as a respectful salutation or a title of honor. G. W. Curtis.

An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting. "Hail, brave friend." Shak. All hail. See in the Vocabulary. -- Hail Mary, a form of prayer made use of in the Roman Catholic Church in invocation of the Virgin. See Ave Maria.

temptuous or brutal in behavior or language; overbearing; domineering; grossly rude or disrespectful; saucy; as, an insolent master; an insolent servant. "A paltry, insolent fellow." Shak. Insolent is he that despiseth in his judgment all other folks as in regard of his value, of his cunning, of his speaking, and of hi…

Disrespectful. [Obs.] Sir C. Cornwallis. Irrespective of, regardless of; without regard to; as, irrespective of differences.

[Hind.] In Oriental countries, a respectful form of address given to a woman; mother. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

Showing good manners; civil; respectful; complaisant. What thou thinkest meet, and is most mannerly. Shak.

Attention; respectful treatment; civility. To take notice of, to perceive especially; to observe or treat with particular attention.