What does the word "respect" mean?

What does it exactly mean when you say you respect someone? Is it more related to admiration/liking or awe/obedience to authority? Has it to do more with how a person acts or what does he or she accomplish?

Let's say you have two teachers. One is kindhearted, nice and wants to stay on good terms with his or her students but he or she also makes compromises to avoid conflicts. Another is strict, asserting authority, keeps his or her distance, gets his or her job done by making people study harder but in hearts of students evokes rather feelings of awe than trust.

According to you, is the word respect more applicable to the first or the second case?

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SWisGoingWoke · M

There are nuances of meaning to the word respect, and for different people it has different meanings.

I think respect is having admiration for someone, whether you like them or not. Respect is when you hold someone in high esteem for whatever reason you deem appropriate. One person might respect another while you might not have any respect for that person.

Given your "either or" example, I would say that there are qualities that would engender respect in both teachers.

Some students need to be pushed while others need to be trusted.

It's also my experience that while I'm engaged with someone in some aspect of life, I may NOT respect them, but later, with distance and perspective on the relationship, I may grow to respect them. Of course, the opposite is true...you might respect someone and, later, with new information, you loose that respect.

CrazyMusicLover · 31-35

@SWisGoingWoke Very well put. 👍️
I see it the same way.