Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - regard

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from ~er  Date: 14th century  1. archaic appearance  2.  a. attention, consideration due ~ should be given to all facets of the question  b. a protective interest ; care has no ~ for her health  3. look, gaze  4.  a. the worth or estimation in which something or someone is held a man of small ~  b.  (1) a feeling of respect and affection ; esteem she soon won the ~ of her colleagues  (2) plural friendly greetings implying such feeling give him my ~s  5. a basis of action or opinion ; motive  6. an aspect to be taken into consideration ; respect is a small school, and is fortunate in this ~  7. obsolete intention  II. verb  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~er to look back at, ~, from re- + garder to guard, look at — more at guard  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to consider and appraise usually from a particular point of view is highly ~ed as a mechanic  2. to pay attention to ; take into consideration or account  3.  a. to show respect or consideration for  b. to hold in high esteem  4. to look at  5. archaic to relate to  intransitive verb  1. to look attentively ; gaze  2. to pay attention ; heed Synonyms:  ~, respect, esteem, admire mean to recognize the worth of a person or thing. ~ is a general term that is usually qualified he is highly ~ed in the profession. respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation after many years they came to respect her views. esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed. admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection a friend that I truly admire.