Definition

Noun: 1. A person who respects someone or something: An individual who shows respect, esteem, or consideration for a particular person, thing, or principle. This sense is most commonly used in the negative form ("no respecter of") to indicate that something does not show favoritism or make distinctions based on a specific quality.

Usage and Examples

The word "respecter" is almost exclusively used in the fixed negative phrase "no respecter of" to state that a force, rule, or phenomenon does not discriminate or show partiality.

• "Death is no respecter of persons." (This classic proverb means that death comes to everyone equally, regardless of their wealth, status, or power.)
• "The law should be no respecter of wealth or social standing." (This means the law should apply equally to everyone, rich or poor.)
• "The virus proved to be no respecter of national borders." (This indicates the virus spread indiscriminately, not respecting or stopping at country boundaries.)
• "He was no respecter of tradition and often challenged old customs." (This describes a person who does not automatically show deference or respect for established traditions.)

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Fixed Negative Construction: The standalone, positive use of "respecter" (e.g., "He is a respecter of authority") is grammatically correct but very rare in modern English. The natural phrasing would be "He respects authority." Therefore, learners should primarily understand and use "respecter" within the idiom "no respecter of."
• Impersonal Forces: The idiom is frequently applied to abstract concepts, natural forces, or systemic issues (e.g., , , , ) to emphasize their impartial and universal nature.

Variants and Related Words

• Respect (verb/noun): The core word meaning to admire or have high regard for someone/something, or the feeling of admiration itself.
• Respectful (adjective): Showing respect.
• Disrespecter (noun): A person who shows disrespect. (This is even rarer than "respecter" and is not used idiomatically.)

Synonyms

• Deferrer (to): One who yields to the opinion or wishes of another. (Note: This is also a rare word and does not carry the idiomatic force of "no respecter of.")
• In the context of the idiom "no respecter of," synonyms for the concept include: impartial, indiscriminate, unbiased.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• No respecter of persons: The most common form of the idiom, meaning not showing favoritism based on social status, wealth, or rank.
• No respecter of [X]: The flexible template of the idiom, where [X] can be replaced with various nouns (e.g., , , , ) to indicate that something does not recognize or honor that particular distinction.

Noun

1. a person who respects someone or something; usually used in the negative
   • X is no respecter of Y