Respect can include a clear boundary
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The chair maintained her composure when several people spoke at once, waiting until she could restate the question in a calm voice. Her manner remained cordial, but she did not allow interruptions to erase a resident's turn. She showed deference to the caretaker's knowledge of the building's booking arrangements while asking him to distinguish established practice from his own preference. That combination of courtesy and clear boundaries helped the meeting return to the decision it had been called to make.
A resident later thanked the chair for her cordial treatment of people whose views differed from her own. Maintaining composure had not required her to agree with every claim or hide the limits of the discussion. Nor did deference to the caretaker mean granting him the final decision on behalf of everyone. His experience informed the options, while the residents still needed to evaluate those options and record a schedule they were prepared to try.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.