/ri spekt"/ , n.
1. a particular, detail, or point (usually prec. by in ): to differ in some respect.
2. relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.
3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.
4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.
5. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.
6. respects , a formal expression or gesture of greeting, esteem, or friendship: Give my respects to your parents.
7. favor or partiality.
8. Archaic. a consideration.
9. in respect of , in reference to; in regard to; concerning.
10. in respect that , Archaic. because of; since.
11. pay one's respects ,
a. to visit in order to welcome, greet, etc.: We paid our respects to the new neighbors.
b. to express one's sympathy, esp. to survivors following a death: We paid our respects to the family.
12. with respect to , referring to; concerning: with respect to your latest request.
v.t.
13. to hold in esteem or honor: I cannot respect a cheat.
14. to show regard or consideration for: to respect someone's rights.
15. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with: to respect a person's privacy.
16. to relate or have reference to.
[ 1300-50; (n.) ME ( respectus action of looking back, consideration, regard, equiv. to respec-, var. s. of respicere to look back ( re- RE- + specere to look) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) respectus ptp. of respicere ]
Syn. 1. regard, feature, matter. 2. regard, connection. 3. estimation, reverence, homage, honor. RESPECT, ESTEEM, VENERATION imply recognition of personal qualities by approbation, deference, and more or less affection. RESPECT is commonly the result of admiration and approbation, together with deference: to feel respect for a great scholar.
ESTEEM is deference combined with admiration and often with affection: to hold a friend in great esteem. VENERATION is an almost religious attitude of deep respect, reverence, and love, such as we feel for persons or things of outstanding superiority, endeared by long association: veneration for one's grandparents, for noble traditions. 7. bias, preference. 13. revere, venerate, consider, admire. 14. heed.