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.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to hold in esteem or honor: I cannot respect a cheat.
10.
to show regard or consideration for: to respect someone's rights.
11.
to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with: to respect a person's privacy.
12.
to relate or have reference to.
—Idioms
13.
in respect of, in reference to; in regard to; concerning.
14.
in respect that, Archaic. because of; since.
15.
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.
16.
with respect to, referring to; concerning: with respect to your latest request.
[Origin: 1300–50; (n.) ME (< OF) < L 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.) < L respectus ptp. of respicere]
—Synonyms 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. 9. revere, venerate, consider, admire. 10. heed.
To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
To relate or refer to; concern.
n.
A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem. See Synonyms at regard.
The state of being regarded with honor or esteem.
Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
respects Polite expressions of consideration or deference: pay one's respects.
A particular aspect, feature, or detail: In many respects this is an important decision.
Usage Problem Relation; reference. See Usage Note at regard.
[From Middle English, regard, from Old French, from Latin respectus, from past participle of respicere, to look back at, regard : re-, re- + specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
c.1300, from L. respectus "regard," lit. "act of looking back at one," pp. of respicere "look back at, regard, consider," from re- "back" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)). The verb is 1542, from the noun. Meaning "treat with deferential regard or esteem" is from 1560; respectable "worthy of respect" is from 1586 (implied in respected).
"I have certainly known more men destroyed by the desire to have wife and child and to keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots." [William Butler Yeats, "Autobiography"]
(usually preceded by 'in') a detail or point; "it differs in that respect"
2.
the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded); "it is held in esteem"; "a man who has earned high regard" [syn: esteem] [ant: disesteem]
3.
an attitude of admiration or esteem; "she lost all respect for him" [ant: disrespect]
4.
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard; "his deference to her wishes was very flattering"; "be sure to give my respects to the dean" [syn: deference]
5.
behavior intended to please your parents; "their children were never very strong on obedience"; "he went to law school out of respect for his father's wishes" [syn: obedience]
6.
a feeling of friendship and esteem; "she mistook his manly regard for love"; "he inspires respect" [syn: regard]
7.
courteous regard for people's feelings; "in deference to your wishes"; "out of respect for his privacy" [syn: deference]
verb
1.
regard highly; think much of; "I respect his judgement"; "We prize his creativity" [ant: disesteem]
2.
show respect towards; "honor your parents!" [ant: disrespect]
Def"er*ence\, n. [F. d['e]f['e]rence. See 3d Defer.] A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance. Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men. --Whewell. Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments. --Shenstone. Syn: Deference, Reverence, Respect. Usage: Deference marks an inclination to yield one's opinion, and to acquiesce in the sentiments of another in preference to one's own. Respect marks the estimation that we have for another, which makes us look to him as worthy of high confidence for the qualities of his mind and heart. Reverence denotes a mingling of fear with a high degree of respect and esteem. Age, rank, dignity, and personal merit call for deference; respect should be paid to the wise and good; reverence is due to God, to the authors of our being, and to the sanctity of the laws.
Re*spect"\ (r?*sp?kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Respected; p. pr. & vb. n. Respecting.] [L. respectare, v. intens. from respicere, respectum, to look back, respect; pref. re- re- + specere, spicere, to look, to view: cf. F. respecter. See Spy, and cf. Respite.]1. To take notice of; to regard with special attention; to regard as worthy of special consideration; hence, to care for; to heed. Thou respectest not spilling Edward's blood. --Shak. In orchards and gardens, we do not so much respect beauty as variety of ground for fruits, trees, and herbs. --Bacon. 2. To consider worthy of esteem; to regard with honor. "I do respect thee as my soul." --Shak. 3. To look toward; to front upon or toward. [Obs.] Palladius adviseth the front of his house should so respect the ??uth. --Sir T. Browne. 4. To regard; to consider; to deem. [Obs.] To whom my father gave this name of Gaspar, And as his own respected him to death. --B. Jonson. 5. To have regard to; to have reference to; to relate to; as, the treaty particularly respects our commerce. As respects, as regards; with regard to; as to. --Macaulay. To respect the person or persons, to favor a person, or persons on corrupt grounds; to show partiality. "Ye shall not respect persons in judgment." --Deut. i. 17. Syn: To regard; esteem; honor; revere; venerate.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [ri-spekt] Pronunciation Key 
