venerable

[ ven-er-uh-buh l ]
/ ˈvɛn ər ə bəl /

adjective

commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
(of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: the venerable halls of the abbey.
impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: a venerable oak tree.
extremely old or obsolete; ancient: a venerable automobile.

noun

a venerable person.

Origin of venerable

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā(rī) to venerate + -bilis -ble

OTHER WORDS FROM venerable

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH venerable

venerable vulnerable

Words nearby venerable

venenose, venenous, venepuncture, vener, venera, venerable, venerate, veneration, venereal, venereal bubo, venereal disease

Example sentences from the Web for unvenerable

  • His long and unvenerable hairs strayed loose beneath the dunghill relic which crowned them.

    Young Mr. Barter's Repentance |David Christie Murray

British Dictionary definitions for unvenerable

venerable
/ (ˈvɛnərəbəl) /

adjective

(esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
(of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
ancient venerable tomes
RC Church a title bestowed on a deceased person when the first stage of his canonization has been accomplished and his holiness has been recognized in a decree of the official Church
Church of England a title given to an archdeacon

Derived forms of venerable

venerability or venerableness, noun venerably, adverb

Word Origin for venerable

C15: from Latin venerābilis, from venerārī to venerate