respectare

Respectare is a Latin verb of the first conjugation that ordinarily means to regard or to respect, and more broadly to pay regard to someone or something. It covers actions such as respecting laws, authorities, or persons, and in some uses can imply showing esteem or deference as well as attention.

Etymology and form: The term is associated with the Latin root spec-/spect-, meaning “to look” or “to regard,” and is related to respicere and to the noun respectus, which express related notions of regard and consideration. Respectare is the infinitive form; in standard grammars it is treated as a regular first-conjugation verb, with principal parts such as respecto, respectare, respectavi, respectatum.

Usage and scope: Respectare governs a direct object in the accusative for the thing or person respected. It appears in ethical, legal, and social contexts, such as respecting laws or authorities and respecting a person’s rights or status. In philosophical or rhetorical usage, it can denote a general attitude of regard, esteem, or deference toward moral values, customs, or duties.

Historical context and cognates: Respectare is attested in medieval and ecclesiastical Latin and is less common in classical authors, where related terms like respecere or respectus are more frequent. The term has cognates in Romance languages, such as Italian rispettare and Spanish respetar, reflecting the same root meaning of regard and esteem.