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“respect” in Latin

The English word respect itself goes back to Latin speciō, through respectus.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

respect s.
Account, regard, respectus: ratio: in respect of a thing, alicujus rei ratione habita; alicujus rei respectu. Without respect of persons, nullius ratione habita; delectu omni et discrimine omisso: in every respect, omnino (claiming general acceptance or assent): ab omni parte, omni ex parte: in omni genere: omnibus rebus (in all points or particulars). In both respects, utraque in re (see Cic., Lael., 18, 14); also, by the accusative, aliquid (e.g., Caes., B.G., 1, 40). In many respects, multis locis (Vid: Klotz., Cic., Tusc., 4, 1, 1). This can help in no respect, hoc nullam ad partem valet: this is troublesome to me in every respect, hoc in omnes partes molestum est: with respect to, quod attinet ad (what pertains to; as Cic., ad Div., 3, 5, 3, quod ad librum attinet quem tibi filius dabit, and Cic., Fam., 1, 2, 4, quod ad popularem rationem attinet, what concerns; and ☞ this is the only sense in which quod attinet ad is = with respect to in good Latin): ad (in reference to, in respect of; as Cic., 2 Verr., 1, 22, 58, adornatura ad speciem magnifico ornatu; and Cic., N.D., 2, 62, 155, nulla [species] ad rationem sollertiamque praestantior; and Cic., Tusc., 3, 5, 11, mentis ad omnia caecitas): de (in respect of, concerning, about; as, Ter., Ad., 2, 1, 50, de argento somnium; and Caes., B.G., 6, 19, de morte si res in suspicionem venit; and Cic., Att., 9, 1, 2, recte non credis de numero militum): a or ab (on the part of; as Cic., De Or., 3, 61, 229, nihil enim isti adolescenti neque a natura, neque a doctrina deesse sentio). Sometimes this may be rendered by respiciens, in such phrases as, with respectto those things the people chose rather, haec respiciens populus maluit: or by si judicandum est aliqua re; in such cases as the following; he had a household, excellent indeed with respect to their serviceableness, but, with respect to appearance, very inferior, usus est familia, si militate judicandum est, optima, si forma, vix mediocri (Nep., Att., 13, 3). With respect to what, etc., quod with a verb; with respect to your doubting, from the nature of my plans, whether you shall Vid: me in the province, quod itinerum meorum ratio te nonnullam in rationem videtur adducere, visurusne me sis in provincia (ea res sic se habet, etc., Cic., Fam., 3, 5, 3; Vid: also, Liv., 3, 12, 7, etc.): with respect to myself, quod attinet ad me, de me, a me, per me; out of respectto, i. e., on account of, ob; propter; causa.
High esteem, reverent regard, observantia (respect shown to anybody by waiting upon him, etc.): verecundia (regard): reverentia (esteem; these three of respect shown to another): honor (honor): dignatio (esteem caused by desert). To possess, enjoy respect, habetur alicui honor: coli et observari: aliquem numerum obtinere: to entertain or feel respect for anybody, vereri, revereri aliquem, aliquem colere, tribuere alicui cultum: to show respect to anybody, observare, honorare aliquem; reverentiam adhibere adversus aliquem or praestare alicui: hence also, (The words are found in this connection and order.) colere et observare aliquem: to show due respect to anybody, aliquem prosequi, with or without observantia (opposed to elevare aliquem).
respect v.
To regard, alicujus rei rationem ducere or habere: not to respect, negligere aliquem or aliquid; nihil curare aliquid: to respect as, ponere with in and the ablative; ducere aliquid alicui rei; numerare aliquid in alicujus rei loco. [Vid :, also, REGARD, v.]
To relate to, ad rem spectare [Vid :, also, RELATE].
To entertain or feel respect for [Vid: in RESPECT, s.] . To respect anybody’s will or pleasure, alicujus voluntati obsequi or morem gerere: to respect anybody’s commands, ab aliquo imperata facere.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for respect?
The usual Latin words for “respect” are respiciō, ratiō, observō; also verēcundia, revereor, honor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.