I.v. dep. a. [Sanscr. vankh, wish, pray; cf. O. H. Germ. wunsc; Engl. wish; and Lat. Venus, venustas], to reverence with religious awe, to worship, adore, revere, venerate.
I. Lit.
A. Of religious worship offered to the gods, etc. (class.; “syn.: adoro, colo, revereor): di quos nos colere precari venerarique soleamus,” Cic. N. D. 1, 42, 119: “venerari et colere deos,” id. ib. 2, 28, 71: “auguste sancteque deos omnes,” id. ib. 3, 21, 53: “simulacrum in precibus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94: “eum (Epicurum) ut deum,” id. Tusc. 1, 21, 48: “eos in deorum numero (with colere),” id. Agr. 2, 35, 95: “lapidem e sepulcro pro deo,” id. Planc. 40, 95: “Larem Farre pio,” Verg. A. 5, 745: “majestatem naturae deorum,” Quint. 3, 7, 7: “templa dei,” Verg. A. 3, 84.—
B. With men or things as objects, to revere, do homage to, reverence, honor (not ante-Aug.): “quin omne humanum genus secundum deos nomen Romanum veneretur,” Liv. 36, 17, 15: “veneratur illos populus idem colitque,” Sen. Ira, 3, 41, 3: “Satrium utque Pomponium venerebamur,” Tac. A. 6, 8: “sic patris sic mariti memoriam venerari,” id. Agr. 46: “omnes qui aliquid in studiis faciunt venerari studeo,” Plin. Ep. 6, 17, 5; 7, 31, 5: “spectacula edentes,” Suet. Claud. 12: “ut humilitas amplitudinem venerari debet,” Val. Max. 3, 8, 7: “canos ejus et annos,” id. 4, 5, ext. 2: “principes,” id. 8, 5, 6: “antiquorum curam diligentiamque,” Plin. 27, 2, 2, § 4: “(Augustum),” Hor. C. 4, 14, 52: “amicos,” Ov. P. 1, 2, 51: “se (scribentes),” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 107; 2, 1, 263.—
II. Transf., to ask reverently for any thing, to beseech, implore, beg, entreat, supplicate; with ut: “nunc quisquis est deus, veneror, Ut nos ex hac aerumnā miseras eximat,” Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 37; 5, 2, 62; id. Poen. 5, 1, 17; id. Aul. prol. 8; cf. an old formula of prayer in Liv. 8, 9, 7: qui multa deos venerati sint contra ejus salutem, Caecin. ap. Cic. Fam. 6, 7, 2: “nihil horum,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 8: “nec tu supplicibus me sis venerata tabellis,” Prop. 2, 20 (3, 13), 33.!*?
1. Act. collat, form vĕnĕro , āre: “saluto te, vicine Apollo, veneroque te, Ne, etc.,” Plaut. Bacch. 2, 1, 4: “ut venerem Lucinam meam,” id. Truc. 2, 5, 23.—
2. Veneror, as passive, App. M. 11, p. 257, 25; Ambros. Ep. 17, 1.—vĕnĕrātus , a, um, in a pass. signif.: “Ceres, Hor, S. 2, 2, 124: Sibylla,” Verg. A. 3, 460; cf. Prisc. p. 794.
A. vĕ-nĕrandus , a, um, P. a., worthy of veneration, venerable: “VENERANDISSIMI CAESARES,” Inscr. Grut. 209, 2; Paul. Nol. Ep. 38, 3.—
B. vĕnĕranter , adv., with veneration, reverently (eccl. Lat.): “adorant omnes,” Tert. Carm. Judic. Dom. 184; Sedul. 5, 432.