verēcundia

1. Modus, in a moral sense, denotes the μέτριον, or the included notion of the μηδὲν ἄγαν in objective relation; modestia and moderatio, in subjective relation; Modestia is the feeling of preference for this modus; moderatio, the habit of acting in conformity to this feeling. 2. Moderatio is moderation, as springing from the understanding, from calculation and reflection, akin to prudentia; temperatio and temperantia are qualities pervading the whole man, and ennobling his whole being, akin to sapientia. Moderatio supposes, like self-government, a conflict between the passions and reason, in which reason comes off conqueror; in temperatio, as in tranquillity of mind, the reason is already in possession of superiority, whether through nature or moral worth. 3. Temperatus, temperatio, denote merely a laudable property, which may belong even to things; whereas temperans, temperantia, a virtue of which reasonable beings alone are capable. 4. Moderatio denotes moderation in action, in opp. to cupiditas; whereas continentia, moderation in enjoyment, in opp. to libido, Cic. Cat. ii. 11, 25. Verr. iv. 52. 5. Continentia denotes command over sensual desires, continence; abstinentia, over the desire for that which belongs to another, firm integrity; the translation of abstinentia by ‘disinterestedness,’ is not precise enough, for this virtue is required by morality only, abstinentia, by law also. Quintil. v. 10, 89. Cic. Sext. 16. 6. Modestia shuns overstepping the right measure, out of regard to the morals which the modus prescribes; whereas verecundia and reverentia out of regard to persons, whom the verecundus is afraid of displeasing, and whom the reverens thinks worthy of respect; lastly, pudor, out of self-respect, that one may not bring one’s self into contempt. Varro, ap. Non. Non te tui saltem pudet, si nihil mei revereare. Terent. Phorm. i. 5, 3. or ii. 1, 3. Non simultatem meam revereri? Saltem pudere? (ii. 203.)

1. Vereri and revereri mean, to feel reverence; whereas venerari, to show reverence. Tac. Ann. xiv. 13; comp. venerationem sui with matris reverentia. 2. Vereri (ὁρᾶν?) denotes respect bordering on fear and bashfulness; whereas revereri, fear and bashfulness arising from respect. In vereri, fear, in revereri, respect is the principal notion: hence verecundia is the dread of exposing one’s self before the person respected; whereas reverentia, the calm consciousness that some one is worthy of this reverential feeling. 3. Venerari (ἄντεσθαι?) is used (at least in Cicero) only for demonstrations of reverence towards the gods and sacred things; observare, only for such demonstrations towards men; colere, towards either. Cic. Rep. i. 12. Ut . . . Africanum ut deum coleret Lælius, domi vicissim Lælium observaret in parentis loco Scipio. And, N. D. i. 42. ii. 28. The venerans seeks only to express due reverence, and by self-humiliation to avert the anger of the gods; the colens (from κόλαξ) seeks by acts of courtesy, of service, and of respect, to win the affection of some one, and the fruits of it, as from a cultivated field. Veneratio shows itself more in prayer; cultus, more in sacrifice: veneratio is more a single, transient act; cultus more a permanent expression of respect. Tac. H. i. 10. Vespasianus . . . Titum filium ad venerationem cultumque (ejus) miserat; that is, that he might do homage to the new emperor, and then also remain in his circle of courtiers. 4. Observare (from ἐρύεσθαι) involves a mere negative notion, and denotes having regard for, in opp. to slighting; yet is not, on this account, colere a stronger, observare a weaker term. Colere, indeed, involves more palpable activity, operam; whereas observare, more tender regard, pietatem; hence sometimes the one, sometimes the other, is the stronger expression. 5. Adorare is the most general expression for any sort of worship; whereas veneratio consists more in gestures, precatio in words. 6. Reveremur validas auctoritates; admiramur raras virtutes; suspicimus excellentia dignitate. At the same time it appears to me, that the reverens is in a state of silent awe; the admirans with the expression of loud, or at least visible enthusiasm; the suspiciens, under the image of one looking up to another with an humble feeling of his own inferiority. Revereri refers especially to moral; admirari, to intellectual and moral; suspicere, to any, even adventitious, pre-eminences. (ii. 185.)