English

Noun

1. admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit. He is an intellectual giant, and I have great respect for him.
2. regard for the rights of others.
3. (always plural) polite greetings, often offered after a death. The mourners paid their respects to the deceased poet.
4. a particular aspect of something.

Verb

1. to have respect for. She is an intellectual giant, and I respect her greatly.
2. to have regard for the rights of others. I respect your right to hold this belief (although privately I think it is nonsense).
3. to consent to abide by an agreement. They failed to respect the treaty they had signed, and invaded.

Usage note

It is possible that a confusion between different meanings of respect affects the attitudes of people and organisations. For example, freedom of religion implies that we are obliged to have regard for the right of anyone to believe whatever they wish, to act in accordance with their beliefs (so long as they respect the law -- human sacrifice is not an acceptable act), and not to be discriminated against on account of their beliefs. However, the use of the word respect seems to have shifted our attitudes towards the notion that we must have behave respectfully towards their beliefs, and not criticise them. This is a restriction on freedom of speech, and is inherently hypocritical -- anyone with any view on religion must necessarily believe that those who believe differently are deluded, although their rights must be respected.