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Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable. A reverend sire among them came. Milton. They must give good example and reverend deportment in the face of their children. Jer. Taylor.

Reverently. [Obs.] Foxe.

Irreverent. [Obs.] Immodest speech, or irreverend gesture. Strype.

Not reverend.

Obliged; beholden. [Obs.] I was much bound and beholding to the right reverend father. Robynson (More's Utopia). So much hath Oxford been beholding to her nephews, or sister's children. Fuller.

Inability to express one's self; stiffness. [Obs.] A reverend disputant of the same costiveness in public elocution with myself. Wakefield.

se, the member of a legislative body who has had the longest continuous service. -- Most Reverend Father in God, a title given to archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York. -- Natural father, the father of an illegitimate child. -- Putative father, one who is presumed to be the fath…

t. Wherein obscurely Cæsar''s ambition shall be glanced at. Shak. He glanced at a certain reverend doctor. Swift.

relations, etc.; as, grave deportment, character, influence, etc. Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors. Shak. A grave and prudent law, full of moral equity. Milton.

In an honorable manner; in a manner showing, or consistent with, honor. The reverend abbot . . . honorably received him. Shak. Why did I not more honorably starve Dryden.

g or has control. Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. Shak. You're welcome, Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom. Shak.

ghty; influential; as, a potent prince. "A potent dukedom." Shak. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors. Shak.

r of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. "Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men." Hooker.

That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state. I am forced to lay my reverence by. Shak.