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.
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
- ancientvenerable 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
early 15c., from Latin venerabilis, from venerari “to worship, revere” (see veneration). As a title, used in reference to ecclesiastics or those who had obtained the first degree of canonization.