venerable

adj

Etymology: From Middle French vénérable, from Old French, from Latin venerabilis.

1. Commanding respect because of age, dignity, character or position.

   “Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.”

2. Worthy of reverence.

   “We looked at the venerable stream not in the vivid flush of a short day that comes and departs for ever, but in the pacific yet august light of abiding memories.”

3. Ancient, antiquated or archaic.

   “And then bills were sent in, and the question arose, what could Jude do with his great-aunt's heavy old furniture if he left the town to travel he knew not whither? This, and the necessity of ready money, compelled him to decide on an auction, much as he would have preferred to keep the venerable goods.”

4. Made sacred especially by religious or historical association.
5. Giving an impression of aged goodness and benevolence.

noun

1. A title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Buddhist monks and nuns.