respect

Where does the word "respect" come from? It comes from Latin respicere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Respect’s story begins in Latin: respicere meant “to look back, to regard.” To look back, to regard, from re- (back) and specere (to look). It reached English by 1300s as respect. Settled as the English word for admiration felt toward someone. Today, respect means a feeling of deep admiration for someone, elicited by their qualities or achievements.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient respicere "to look back, to regard", to look back, to regard, from re- (back) and specere (to look).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s respect "a feeling of deep admiration for someone", settled as the English word for admiration felt toward someone.