esteem

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Related to esteemed: unobtrusive

esteem

negative or positive evaluation of individual qualities or performance (compare STATUS). The term is sometimes used synonymously with STATUS, sense 2 , but the preferred usage is to preserve the distinct meanings in which ‘esteem’ has a reference only to individual qualities and performance, while 'S tatus’ usually relates to systems of SOCIAL STRATIFICATION or CLASS.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

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"Not the least bit in the world, esteemed and revered prince!

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The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever a man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed him still more highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast for this was to last all through Christmastide.

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She had officiated as nurse to Miss Bridget, in a violent fit of illness, and had sat up many nights with that lady; besides which, she had been seen there the very day before Mr Allworthy's return, by Mrs Wilkins herself, though that sagacious person had not at first conceived any suspicion of her on that account: for, as she herself said, "She had always esteemed Jenny as a very sober girl (though indeed she knew very little of her), and had rather suspected some of those wanton trollops, who gave themselves airs, because, forsooth, they thought themselves handsome."