From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
esteem
n 1: the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or
well regarded); "it is held in esteem"; "a man who has
earned high regard" [syn: esteem, regard, respect]
[ant: disesteem]
2: a feeling of delighted approval and liking [syn:
admiration, esteem]
3: an attitude of admiration or esteem; "she lost all respect
for him" [syn: respect, esteem, regard] [ant:
disrespect]
v 1: regard highly; think much of; "I respect his judgement";
"We prize his creativity" [syn: respect, esteem,
value, prize, prise] [ant: disesteem, disrespect]
2: look on as or consider; "she looked on this affair as a
joke"; "He thinks of himself as a brilliant musician"; "He is
reputed to be intelligent" [syn: think of, repute,
regard as, look upon, look on, esteem, take to be]