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respect

noun, verb, intj — 13 senses

respect

noun

CA, US, UK /ɹɪˈspɛkt/ · AU /ɹɪˈspekt/

Etymology From Middle English respect, from Old French respect, also respit (“respect, regard, consideration”), from Latin respectus (“a looking at, regard, respect”), perfect passive participle of respiciō (“look at, look back upon, respect”), from re- (“back”) + speciō (“to see”). Doublet of respite.

1

An attitude of consideration or high regard; a feeling of admiration or esteem.

  • He is an intellectual giant, and I have great respect for him.
  • A video of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon complaining to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his lack of respect for the countries of Central Asia that were once part of the Soviet Union has struck a nerve on social media, where it has been viewed millions of times.[…] “We have always respected the interests of our main strategic partner,” Rahmon said, referring to Russia. “We want respect, too."2022 October 15, “Tajik President's Demand For 'Respect' From Putin Viewed Millions Of Times On YouTube”, in Radio Free Europe, archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022:
2

Good opinion, honor, or admiration.

3

Polite greetings, often offered as condolences after a death.

  • The mourners paid their last respects to the deceased poet.
4

A particular aspect, feature or detail of something.

  • This year's model is superior to last year's in several respects.
  • In our two loves there is but one respect1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 36”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
5

Good will; favor.

  • And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 2:25:
Antonyms
belittlement, contempt, contumely, despect, disdain, disparagement, disrespect, ignoring, irreverence, neglect, scorn, slight
Derived terms
ablative of respect, of respect, by-respect, disrespect, final respects, have respect of persons, in many respects, in respect, in respect of, last respects, misrespect, pay respect, respectable, respectful, respectless, respect order, respectworthy, self-respect, unrespect, with all due respect, with due respect, with respect, with respect to
Related terms
respective

respect

verb

Etymology From Middle English respect, from Old French respect, also respit (“respect, regard, consideration”), from Latin respectus (“a looking at, regard, respect”), perfect passive participle of respiciō (“look at, look back upon, respect”), from re- (“back”) + speciō (“to see”). Doublet of respite.

7 senses
  1. 1To have respect for.
  2. 2To have regard for something, to observe a custom…
  3. 3To abide by an agreement.
  4. 4To take notice of; to regard as worthy of special…
  5. 5To relate to; to be concerned with.
  6. 6To regard; to consider; to deem.
  7. 7To look toward; to face.
1

To have respect for.

  • She is an intellectual giant, and I respect her greatly.
2

To have regard for something, to observe a custom, practice, rule or right.

  • I respect your right to hold that belief, although I think it is nonsense.
  • I respect your right to feel offended, even though most people, myself included, totally disagree and don’t find the comment offensive in the slightest.
3

To abide by an agreement.

  • They failed to respect the treaty they had signed, and invaded.
4

To take notice of; to regard as worthy of special consideration; to heed.

  • [T]hou reſpecteſt not ſpilling Edwards bloud: [...]1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
  • We haue also large and various Orchards, and Gardens; Wherein we doe not ſo much reſpect Beauty, as Variety of Ground and Soile, proper for diuerſe Trees and Herbs: [...]1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 33:
5

To relate to; to be concerned with.

Dated except in "respecting"

  • Whatever they are else, they are always chastisements; and correction respects faults.1674, John Owen, Pneumatologia:
  • Glandulation respects the secretory vessels, which are either glandules, follicles, or utricles.1806, James Lee, An Introduction to Botany:
1 more example
  • I hope I may never again be in a state of mind so unchristian as the mental frame in which I lived for some weeks, respecting the memory of Master B.1859 December 13, Charles Dickens, “The Mortals in the House”, in Charles Dickens, editor, The Haunted House. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round […], volume II, London: […] C[harles] Whiting, […], →OCLC, page 4, column 2:
6

Obsolete To regard; to consider; to deem.

  • [T]his my friend (knowen by no name) was found, / Being then a child and ſcarce of power to ſpeake, / To whom my father gaue this name of Gaſper, / And as his own reſpected him to death, [...]c. 1597, Ben. Jonson, A Pleasant Comedy, Called: The Case is Alterd. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Bartholomew Sutton, and William Barrenger, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
7

Obsolete To look toward; to face.

  • That Palladius adviſeth the front of his edifice ſhould ſo reſpect the South, that in the firſt angle it receive the riſing raies of the winter Sunne, and decline a little from the winter ſetting thereof.1650, Thomas Browne, “Of East and West”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 6th book, page 263:
Derived terms
disrespect, misrespect, over-respect, overrespect, respectability, respectable, respected, respectful, respector, self-respecting

respect

intj

Etymology From Middle English respect, from Old French respect, also respit (“respect, regard, consideration”), from Latin respectus (“a looking at, regard, respect”), perfect passive participle of respiciō (“look at, look back upon, respect”), from re- (“back”) + speciō (“to see”). Doublet of respite.

1

Jamaica hello, hi

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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