Also 5–6 veneracion (6 -acyon). [ad. L. venerātiōn-, venerātio, noun of action f. venerārī to venerate. So OF. veneration (F. vénération), It. venerazione, Sp. veneracion, Pg. veneração.]
1. A feeling of deep respect and reverence directed towards some person or thing: a. In the phrases to have, or hold, in veneration.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 389. In that londe the memory of Seynte Andrewe thapostole is haloede gretely, and hade in veneracion. Ibid., III. 193. That clerke Pictagoras was hade so in veneracion of his disciples, that [etc.].
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 20 b. So men shall haue you in veneration.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 634/1. All those Northern nations … are wonte therfore to have the fire and the sunn in great veneration.
1629. J. Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 391. In the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus (which the Romans have in chief veneration).
a. 1704. T. Brown, Praise Drunkenness, Wks. 1730, I. 38. A custom framed and cemented by nature … ought to be … had in veneration by all succeeding ages.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 62. Mr. Pope held the duke’s judgement in such high veneration [etc.].
1833. Cruse, Eusebius’ Eccl. Hist., VII. xix. (1847), 300. This See … has ever been held in veneration by the brethren, that have followed in the succession there.
b. In general use.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 12. They would … have been of no less Esteem with the Crown, than of Veneration with the People.
1683. Robinson, in Ray’s Corr. (1848), 133. He speaks with great veneration of you.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., II. 372. The persons … who were stiled Baalim, had a great regard paid to their memory, which at last degenerated into a most idolatrous veneration.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 143. That memory will be kept alive with particular veneration by all rational and honourable whigs.
1825. in Ushaw Mag., Dec. (1913), 267. When I am in its company, I feel a certain awe and veneration.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., ix. A gentleman … whom two accomplished … females regard with veneration.
1891. Nisbet, Insanity of Genius, 298. Simple piety or veneration seems to resolve itself into an absence of the identifying faculty.
c. Const. of or for (a person or thing).
(a) 1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. ii. § 1. All that is left, is only a kind of Veneration of a Being more excellent than our own.
1671. F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 409. So tender were the Judges of the Supreme Authority they sate under,… and had such an awe and veneration of Majesty [etc.].
1806. Surr, Winter in Lond., I. 243. The old domestic … had almost intoxicated him with a silly, yet enthusiastic, veneration of old times.
(b) 1681. in Somers, Tracts, I. 131. The greatest motive that begot in me a Veneration for the Duke.
1691. Norris, Pract. Disc. (1698), IV. 13. He has a secret esteem and Veneration for him there [in his heart].
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Bristol, 10 April. They show here the tomb of the Emperor Constantine, for which they have a great veneration.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., V. Wks. 1851, II. 35. She expressed a great veneration for the liturgy of the Church of England.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 106. It is unquestionable that the Reformation began to diminish the veneration for the Latin language.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1877), I. 79. At this time extravagant veneration was avowed for mechanical contrivances.
2. The action or fact of showing respect and reverence; the action or practice of venerating.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 192 b. The lower veneracyon or worshyp exhibyte & done to the sayntes of god, called in the greke dulia.
a. 1540. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 357/2. What faith, what learning, what reason will that Images shoulde bee iudged worthy veneration?
1609. Bible (Douay), Exod. xxxix. 29. They made also the plate of sacred veneration of most pure gold.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxiii. He blushed exceedingly, and fell down in a humble veneration of her.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., V. Note B. Wks. 1788, III. 200. Josephus … saw well the consistency between the veneration paid to Abraham’s God, and the idolatry of the venerators.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., ii. (1876), I. 86. No part of exterior religion was more prominent … than the worship, or at least veneration of images.
1852. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Madonna, Introd. (1857), 18. The veneration paid to Mary in the early Church.
1882–3. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., III. 2562/1. The veneration of martyrs was accompanied by the feeling that their intercession made prayer effective.
3. The fact or condition of being venerated.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Empire (Arb.), 309. Princes are like to Heauenly Bodies,… which haue much Veneration, but no Rest.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 116. Claudian observes there was scarce any Tree that had not its veneration.
1712. Spect., No. 467, § 2. The various Arts … which now give a Dignity and Veneration to the Ease he does enjoy.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 71, ¶ 1. They think veneration gained by such appearances of wisdom.
1774. Reid, Aristotle’s Logic, i. § 1. 3. That the air of mystery might procure great veneration.
† b. In the phrase to be in (…) veneration. Obs.
1628. Le Grys, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, 352. At that time it was in highest veneration among the Moores.
1678. Hobbes, Decam., i. 5. The first Astronomers were also in such veneration with the People, that they were thought to have discourse with their Gods.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 335. The leaders of them are in veneration with the multitude.
Hence Venerational a.
1854. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Org. Nat., I. 310. There is little vitality in any of their venerational feelings.
