venerable

[ ven-er-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character:

   a venerable member of Congress.

2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
3. (of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations:

   the venerable halls of the abbey.

4. impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.:

   a venerable oak tree.

5. extremely old or obsolete; ancient:

   a venerable automobile.

noun

1. a venerable person.

venerable

/ ˈvɛnərəbəl /

adjective

1. (esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
2. (of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
3. ancient

   venerable tomes

4. RC Church a title bestowed on a deceased person when the first stage of his canonization has been accomplished and his holiness has been recognized in a decree of the official Church
5. Church of England a title given to an archdeacon

Derived Forms

• ˌveneraˈbility, noun
• ˈvenerably, adverb

Other Words From

• vener·a·bili·ty vener·a·ble·ness noun
• vener·a·bly adverb
• quasi-vener·a·ble adjective
• quasi-vener·a·bly adverb
• unven·er·a·bili·ty noun
• un·vener·a·ble adjective
• un·vener·a·ble·ness noun
• un·vener·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of venerable¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā ( rī ) to venerate + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of venerable¹

C15: from Latin venerābilis, from venerārī to venerate

Example Sentences

Haynes’ remarkable longevity as a performer was underscored over the decades whenever he played at New York City’s venerable jazz club Birdland.

From Los Angeles Times

Readers accused the two venerable outlets of refusing to take a stand in the face of what they see as the dangers of another Donald Trump presidency.

From Los Angeles Times

She manages to be vulnerable, venerable, semi-transparent and entirely opaque, like any of the great gurus.

From Los Angeles Times

And now for something completely different in the venerable history of a storied rivalry: Andrew Friedman matching wits against Buster Posey.

From Los Angeles Times

The kitchen has a special place in homes, neighborhoods and cultures, so disrupting that venerable institution requires careful thinking to optimize benefits and reduce risks.

From Salon

Related Words

• esteemed
• grand
• revered
• stately
• venerated