[xzins]

It doesn’t matter what they do. We hold them to the meaning of the word ‘venerate’.

Let’s say you verate — deeply respect — your old high school algebra teacher. Do you kneel before her with your face on the ground?

If she is in a hospital bed, I might just kneel to get closer to hear, but I’m not real sure of any value in my face to the ground.

That doesn’t strike me as the meaning of the word ‘venerate’. Words have meanings. Hold people to them.

[ealgeone]

Let’s say you verate — deeply respect — your old high school algebra teacher.

I assure you that NEVER happend! :)

[CynicalBear]

>>It doesn’t matter what they do.<<

Oh it most certainly does. Actions truly do speak louder than words.

>>We hold them to the meaning of the word ‘venerate’.<<

The word comes from the original Latin veneratus, past participle of venerari "to reverence, worship". The Latin lexicon has to reverence with religious awe, to worship, adore, revere, venerate.

You are right in that words mean something. But not as much as the actions one witnesses. I would be hard pressed to agree with a man who says he loves his wife but the beatings she endures by his hand says otherwise.