These words refer to an admiring attitude or to courteous treatment. Respect and honour can allude to both these possibilities. When describing an attitude, the words suggest an almost awed admiration for a person’s views, accomplishments, or behaviour; the person so admired is often one’s superior: feeling a sincere respect for the old woman because she successfully met all the challenges of a very difficult life; astounded to learn that a man who had been held in such high honour had been dismissed from the department because of his political views. Respect , in a way that honour does not, can refer to a feeling for one’s equal: a real respect for his opponent’s intelligence. When the words refer to a manner of treatment, they suggest a courteous, sometimes humble approach: paying the old dowager every conceivable respect ; doing honour to one’s parents.

Regard is similar to respect or honour in that it can refer either to attitude or treatment. The attitude suggested by regard is a warmer but less awed feeling, suggesting approving friendliness more than humble admiration. It may sometimes suggest the attitude of a superior towards a favourite: happy to have won his employer’s regard . In any case, it is less austere than respect or honour : classmates who held him in evident regard . When it applies to treatment, regard contrasts with the two preceding words by referring to a thoughtful or attentive concern rather than humble courtesy: giving the matter my special regard ; treating the reporters interviewing him with unusual regard .

Esteem alludes only to an attitude, designating a favourable opinion of a person which is based on worth but which is joined with a feeling of warm interest in, and sometimes attraction towards, the esteemed person: hurt by the indifference of a co-worker whom she had held in high esteem .

Reverence and veneration are alike in suggesting a deep, profound honour or respect for someone or something. Reverence implies that feelings of love are mingled with honour or respect ; it can refer to an attitude or treatment, the object of which is looked on as exalted or inviolable: regarding his grandfather almost with reverence ; to have reverence for the Crown; treating a valuable piece of art with the reverence it deserves. Veneration refers more to attitude than treatment and implies respect mixed with awe, as for that which we consider to be not only of great worth but almost hallowed: veneration for a dead hero; veneration for the cause of freedom.

The remaining terms almost exclusively relate to treatment. Deference is restricted to possibilities of respect in this use. The word suggests an even greater formalized courtesy and may imply nothing about the true feelings of the person showing such deference : a briefing on what signs of deference the visiting head of state would expect. Consideration , by contrast, relates almost solely to possibilities of regard in this use. Here, even greater overtones of warmth are present, with thoughtfulness and concern more clearly motivated by sincere feeling: showing an unbiased consideration for both sides in the dispute. As with respect and regard , deference might be more appropriate for suggesting behaviour towards a superior, consideration for an inferior: parents who demand to be treated with deference by their children, yet give very little consideration in return.