révérence

Révérence is a French noun (feminine) that designates two related but distinct meanings. First, it denotes reverence in the sense of deep respect or veneration for a person, a sacred object, or a principle. It can describe an attitude of humility and awe, and it may be expressed in words, conduct, or ritual acts. Second, it refers to a ceremonial gesture of bowing or curtsying used to show respect, especially in formal or ceremonial contexts.

The word comes from Old French reverence, from Latin reverentia; the related verb révérer means to revere. In English, the term reverence exists as a cognate but typically lacks the diacritic.

In religious practice, la révérence denotes acts of reverence before sacred objects or during liturgy. In etiquette and ceremonial contexts, the formal la révérence is a gesture of greeting or deference, often performed by women as a curtsy and by men as a bow. In performing arts, actors and dancers may perform a final révérence to acknowledge the audience, similar to a curtain call.

The gesture’s form varies by culture and era. In contemporary usage, la révérence remains a standard term in French for both reverence and the act of bowing. English usage differentiates the feeling of reverence from the act of bowing, with révérer corresponding to the verb “to revere” and révérence to the noun or gesture.