Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Reverence \Rev"er*ence\, n. [F. r['e]v['e]rence, L. reverentia.
   See {Reverent}.]
   1. Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and
      affection, as for a holy being or place; the disposition
      to revere; veneration.

            If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence. --Chaucer.

            Reverence, which is the synthesis of love and fear.
                                                  --Coleridge.

            When discords, and quarrels, and factions, are
            carried openly and audaciously, it is a sign the
            reverence of government islost.       --Bacon.

   Note: Formerly, as in Chaucer, reverence denoted ``respect''
         ``honor'', without awe or fear.

   2. The act of revering; a token of respect or veneration; an
      obeisance.

            Make twenty reverences upon receiving . . . about
            twopence.                             --Goldsmith.

            And each of them doeth all his diligence To do unto
            the feast reverence.                  --Chaucer.

   3. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence;
      reverend character; dignity; state.

            I am forced to lay my reverence by.   --Shak.

   4. A person entitled to be revered; -- a title applied to
      priests or other ministers with the pronouns his or your;
      sometimes poetically to a father. --Shak.

   {Save your reverence}, {Saving your reverence}, an
      apologetical phrase for an unseemly expression made in the
      presence of a priest or clergyman.

   {Sir reverence}, a contracted form of Save your reverence.

            Such a one as a man may not speak of, without he
            say. ``Sir reverence.''               --Shak.

   {To do reverence}, to show reverence or honor; to perform an
      act of reverence.

            Now lies he there, And none so poor to do him
            reverence.                            --Shak.

   Syn: Awe; honor; veneration; adoration; dread.

   Usage: {Awe}, {Reverence}, {Dread}, {Veneration}. Reverence
          is a strong sentiment of respect and esteem, sometimes
          mingled slightly with fear; as, reverence for the
          divine law. Awe is a mixed feeling of sublimity and
          dread in view of something great or terrible, sublime
          or sacred; as, awe at the divine presence. It does not
          necessarily imply love. Dread is an anxious fear in
          view of an impending evil; as, dread of punishment.
          Veneration is reverence in its strongest
          manifestations. It is the highest emotion we can
          exercise toward human beings. Exalted and noble
          objects produce reverence; terrific and threatening
          objects awaken dread; a sense of the divine presence
          fills us with awe; a union of wisdom and virtue in one
          who is advanced in years inspires us with veneration.