n. & v.
n. 1 deferential esteem felt or shown towards a person or quality. 2 a (foll. by of, for) heed or regard. b (foll. by to) attention to or consideration of (without respect to the results). 3 an aspect, detail, particular, etc. (correct except in this one respect). 4 reference, relation (a morality that has no respect to religion). 5 (in pl.) a person's polite messages or attentions (give my respects to your mother).
v.tr. 1 regard with deference, esteem, or honour. 2 a avoid interfering with, harming, degrading, insulting, injuring, or interrupting. b treat with consideration. c refrain from offending, corrupting, or tempting (a person, a person's feelings, etc.). in respect of as concerns; with reference to. in respect that because. with (or with all due) respect a mollifying formula preceding an expression of one's disagreement with another's views. respecter n.
[ ME f. OF respect or L respectus f. respicere (as RE-, specere look at) or f. respectare frequent. of respicere ]