Greatly respect vicar before? (6)
I believe the answer is:
revere
'greatly respect' is the definition.
(I know that to revere is to abide by greatly)
'vicar before?' is the wordplay.
'vicar' becomes 'rev' (reverend).
'before?' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'rev'+'ere'='REVERE'
(Other definitions for revere that I've seen before include "Pay homage to" , "night rider to Lexington" , "Lapel, for a midnight rider?" , "Idolise, venerate" , "Greatly admire" .)