Reverend

Reverend - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

REV'EREND, a. [L. reverendus.]

1. Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; as reverend and gracious senators.

A reverend sire among them came.

[This epithet is, I believe, never applied to the Supreme Being, or to his laws or institutions. In lieu of it we use venerable.]

2. A title of respect given to the clergy or ecclesiastics. We style a clergyman reverend; a bishop is styled right reverend; an archbishop most reverend. The religious in catholic countries, are styled reverend fathers; abbesses, prioresses, _c. reverend mothers. In Scotland, as in the United States, the clergy are individually styled reverend. A synod is styled very reverend, and the general assembly venerable.