Emily Dickinson Lexicon

REV'ER-END, a. [Fr. from L. reverendus.]

1. Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; as, reverend and gracious senators. – Shak. A reverend sire among them came. – Milton.
2. A title of respect given to the clergy or ecclesiastics. We style a clergyman reverend; a bishop is styled right reverend; an archbishop most reverend. The religions in Catholic countries, are styled reverend fathers; abbesses, prioresses; &c. reverend mothers. In Scotland, as in the United States, the clergy are individually styled reverend. A synod is styled very reverend, and the general assembly venerable. – Encyc.