ad·mire

[ad-mahyuhr] verb, ad·mired, ad·mir·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.
2.
to regard with wonder or surprise (usually used ironically or sarcastically): I admire your audacity.
verb (used without object)
3.
to feel or express admiration.
4.
Dialect. to take pleasure; like or desire: I would admire to go.
5.
be admiring of, Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to admire: He's admiring of his brother's farm.

Origin:
1580–90; < Latin admīrārī, equivalent to ad- ad- + mīrārī (in Medieval Latin mīrāre) to wonder at, admire

ad·mir·er, noun
pre·ad·mire, verb (used with object), pre·ad·mired, pre·ad·mir·ing.
pre·ad·mir·er, noun
qua·si-ad·mire, verb, qua·si-ad·mired, qua·si-ad·mir·ing.
un·ad·mired, adjective


1. esteem, revere, venerate.


1. despise.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
admire (ədˈmaɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to regard with esteem, respect, approval, or pleased surprise
2.  archaic to wonder at
 
[C16: from Latin admīrāri to wonder at, from ad- to, at + mīrāri to wonder, from mīrus wonderful]
 
ad'mirer
 
n
 
ad'miring
 
adj
 
ad'miringly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

admire
late 16c., from Fr. admirer (O.Fr. amirer, 14c.), from L. admirari (see admiration). Noun admirer is recorded from c.1600; "In common speech, a lover" [Johnson], a sense recorded from c.1705.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
They often admire them and hold them in high esteem.
Contact people whose work you admire.
Do form a group with people you respect and admire for their productivity and
  savvy.
If you don't know how, you can still admire the athletes from the beach or from
  the long concrete pier.
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