revere

Revere is a verb meaning to regard with deep respect, admiration, or devotion for someone or something. It is typically used of people, deities, traditions, or memories, as in revere their elders or revere the memory of a hero. The related noun is reverence.

Etymologically, revere comes from Old French reverer, from Latin revereri, meaning to respect or fear. The word is closely linked to reverence, which names the quality of profound esteem, and to reverent, a descriptor for attitudes or expressions of such regard. The past participle form revered is commonly used to describe someone or something held in high esteem, as in a revered leader.

In usage, revere is often transitive. The object tends to be a person, deity, principle, or ideal. In religious contexts, believers may revere a deity; in secular contexts, societies may revere founders, scholars, or cultural icons. The passive form is frequently encountered, as in a figure who is widely revered.

Notable people with the surname Revere include Paul Revere (1734–1818), an American silversmith and patriot famed for his Midnight Ride during the American Revolution. His name is associated with American historical memory, notably through Longfellow’s poem and related folklore.

The city of Revere, Massachusetts, located in the Greater Boston area, is named after Paul Revere. It is a coastal suburb in Suffolk County and reflects a common practice of naming places after notable historical figures.

See also terms related to reverence, such as reverence, revered, and reverent.