Lewis & Short

vĕnĕror, ātus, 1, v. dep. a. [Sanscr. vankh, wish, pray; cf. O. H. Germ. wunsc; Engl. wish; and Lat. Venus, venustas], to reverence with religious awe, to worship, adore, revere, venerate.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Of religious worship offered to the gods, etc. (class.; syn.: adoro, colo, revereor): di quos nos colere precari venerarique soleamus, Cic. N. D. 1, 42, 119: venerari et colere deos, id. ib. 2, 28, 71: auguste sancteque deos omnes, id. ib. 3, 21, 53: simulacrum in precibus, id. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94: eum (Epicurum) ut deum, id. Tusc. 1, 21, 48: eos in deorum numero (with colere), id. Agr. 2, 35, 95: lapidem e sepulcro pro deo, id. Planc. 40, 95: Larem Farre pio, Verg. A. 5, 745: majestatem naturae deorum, Quint. 3, 7, 7: templa dei, Verg. A. 3, 84.
    2. B. With men or things as objects, to revere, do homage to, reverence, honor (not ante-Aug.): quin omne humanum genus secundum deos nomen Romanum veneretur, Liv. 36, 17, 15: veneratur illos populus idem colitque, Sen. Ira, 3, 41, 3: Satrium utque Pomponium venerebamur, Tac. A. 6, 8: sic patris sic mariti memoriam venerari, id. Agr. 46: omnes qui aliquid in studiis faciunt venerari studeo, Plin. Ep. 6, 17, 5; 7, 31, 5: spectacula edentes, Suet. Claud. 12: ut humilitas amplitudinem venerari debet, Val. Max. 3, 8, 7: canos ejus et annos, id. 4, 5, ext. 2: principes, id. 8, 5, 6: antiquorum curam diligentiamque, Plin. 27, 2, 2, § 4: (Augustum), Hor. C. 4, 14, 52: amicos, Ov. P. 1, 2, 51: se (scribentes), Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 107; 2, 1, 263.
  2. II. Transf., to ask reverently for any thing, to beseech, implore, beg, entreat, supplicate; with ut: nunc quisquis est deus, veneror, Ut nos ex hac aerumnā miseras eximat, Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 37; 5, 2, 62; id. Poen. 5, 1, 17; id. Aul. prol. 8; cf. an old formula of prayer in Liv. 8, 9, 7: qui multa deos venerati sint contra ejus salutem, Caecin. ap. Cic. Fam. 6, 7, 2: nihil horum, Hor. S. 2, 6, 8: nec tu supplicibus me sis venerata tabellis, Prop. 2, 20 (3, 13), 33.
    Note:
      1. 1. Act. collat, form vĕnĕro, āre: saluto te, vicine Apollo, veneroque te, Ne, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 2, 1, 4: ut venerem Lucinam meam, id. Truc. 2, 5, 23.
      2. 2. Veneror, as passive, App. M. 11, p. 257, 25; Ambros. Ep. 17, 1.—vĕnĕrātus, a, um, in a pass. signif.: Ceres, Hor, S. 2, 2, 124: Sibylla, Verg. A. 3, 460; cf. Prisc. p. 794.
    1. A. vĕ-nĕrandus, a, um, P. a., worthy of veneration, venerable: VENERANDISSIMI CAESARES, Inscr. Grut. 209, 2; Paul. Nol. Ep. 38, 3.
    2. B. vĕnĕranter, adv., with veneration, reverently (eccl. Lat.): adorant omnes, Tert. Carm. Judic. Dom. 184; Sedul. 5, 432.