adj.1 entitled to veneration on account of character, age, associations, etc. (a venerable priest; venerable relics).
2 as the title of an archdeacon in the Church of England.
3 RC Ch. as the title of a deceased person who has attained a certain degree of sanctity but has not been fully beatified or canonized.
Derivatives:
venerability n. venerableness n. venerably adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF venerable or L venerabilis (as VENERATE)