ven ‧ e ‧ rate /ˈvenəreɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of venerari , from venus 'love, desire' ]
to honour or respect someone or something because they are old, holy, or connected with the past:
a symbol of Arab courage, to be venerated for generations
venerate somebody as something
These children are venerated as holy beings.
—veneration /ˌvenəˈreɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable] :
The sun was an object of veneration.