admire

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French admirer, from Latin admīror, from ad + mīror (“wonder at”).

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To be amazed at; to view with surprise; to marvel at.
   examples rather to be admired than imitated 1640, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State
2. (transitive) To regard with wonder and delight.
3. (transitive) To look upon with an elevated feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation, esteem, love or reverence.
4. (transitive) To estimate or value highly; to hold in high esteem.
   to admire a person of high moral worth
   He had always admired the work ethos and family values of his friend.
   to admire a landscape
   I'm so sick and tired of bein' admired. That I wish that I would just die or get fired. 2000, Marshall Mathers (Eminem) (lyrics and music), “The Way I Am”, in The Marshall Mathers LP
5. (US, dialectal, rare) To be enthusiastic about (doing something); to want or like (to do something). (Sometimes followed by to.)
   I'm not sayin' she's touched the Devil, now, but I'd admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them — she'll not answer me, y' see. 1953, Arthur Miller, The Crucible
   And I'd admire seeing this creek become a sort of stopping place for geese of one sort and another. 1976, Field & Stream, page 10
   “I hope you do. I'd admire seeing a lot of you.” They made camp down at the creek. Will spread her blanket not too far from his. “Well, aren't you a lady's man.” “Why do you say that?” 2002, Jack Jones, Iron Spur, page 37