adj.
Pronunciation: ' ve-n ə r(- ə )-b ə l, ' ven-r ə -b ə l
Function: adjective
Date: 15th century
1 : deserving to be venerated ― used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity
2 : made sacred especially by religious or historical association
3 a : calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments <a venerable jazz musician> broadly : conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence <encouraged by the venerable doctor's head-nodding> b : impressive by reason of age <under venerable pines>
synonyms see OLD
– ven · er · a · bil · i · ty \ ˌ ve-n ə -r ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē , ˌ ven-r ə - \ noun
– ven · er · a · ble · ness \ ' ve-n ə r(- ə )-b ə l-n ə s, ' ven-r ə - \ noun
– ven · er · a · bly \ -bl ē \ adverb