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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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Cierzo · M
To both, I think. Respect is someone in the middle between liking and obeying. It means that you do not to agree with someone else, but you understand their reasons and do not try to change their behaviour.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
@Cierzo That's a very good point of view. Especially with the part not trying to change their behaviour. I wasn't thinking about it that way but it's true.