Reverence
The word reverence has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root wer(3)(to perceive, to watch out for) and Latin revereri (to stand in awe of, respect, honor, fear, be afraid of; to revere).
The word reverence comes to English in the late 13th century from Latin reverentia (awe, respect) and Old French reverence (respect, awe).
In brief, in its origins the word reverence is about the perceptions or feelings of awe or fear, respect or honor, related to something.
I find it interesting and provocative that the word beauty has its origins in PIE deu(2) meaning to revere as well as to show favor, to perform, to do. Note that PIE deu(2) is a verb—it indicates a response to something, not the quality of something. We show favor to something or revere something because of its qualities.
Speaking of ‘to revere’: for example, in his late 1st century book, Germania, the Roman historian Tacitus described how the Germanic tribes looked at forests and trees, not as gods or where the gods lived, but rather they looked at trees and forests with “the eye of reverence”; that is, with an eye to the beauty and wonder of nature and creation (and quite likely with respect for the gods of creation).
PIE wer(3) is also the source of words such as avant-garde, award, aware, beware, guard, panorama, regard, reverend, reward, vanguard, warden, and others.
See also BEAUTY.
The word reverence comes to English in the late 13th century from Latin reverentia (awe, respect) and Old French reverence (respect, awe).
In brief, in its origins the word reverence is about the perceptions or feelings of awe or fear, respect or honor, related to something.
I find it interesting and provocative that the word beauty has its origins in PIE deu(2) meaning to revere as well as to show favor, to perform, to do. Note that PIE deu(2) is a verb—it indicates a response to something, not the quality of something. We show favor to something or revere something because of its qualities.
Speaking of ‘to revere’: for example, in his late 1st century book, Germania, the Roman historian Tacitus described how the Germanic tribes looked at forests and trees, not as gods or where the gods lived, but rather they looked at trees and forests with “the eye of reverence”; that is, with an eye to the beauty and wonder of nature and creation (and quite likely with respect for the gods of creation).
PIE wer(3) is also the source of words such as avant-garde, award, aware, beware, guard, panorama, regard, reverend, reward, vanguard, warden, and others.
See also BEAUTY.
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