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Honor

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honor¹

  • /ˈɒn.ə/ UK
  • /ˈɑ.nɚ/ Canada, US
  • /ˈɔn.ə/ Australia

Rhymes with -ɒnə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English honour, honor, honur, from Anglo-Norman honour, honur, from Old French honor, from Latin honor.

Displaced native Old English hād and Middle English menske (“honor, dignity among men”) (though survived in descendant mense (“property, civility, etc.”)), from Old Norse menskr (“honor”).

The verb is from Middle English honouren, honuren (“to honor”).

noun honors · honour

  1. US, uncountable Recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration (of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful). The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.
  2. US, uncountable The state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity. He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.
  3. US, countable A token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen. Honors are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen's Birthday in June and at the New Year.
  4. US, countable, uncountable A privilege (which honors the person experiencing it). I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
  5. US, countable, in plural, uncountable The privilege of going first. I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
  6. US, countable, in plural, uncountable The right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
  7. US, countable, uncountable A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament. He is an honour to his nation.
  8. US, countable, uncountable A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended. The lorde of the honour or manour
  9. US, countable The center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon (compare honour point).
  10. US, countable In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit; in some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
  11. US, countable a dragon or wind tile.
  12. US, countable, in plural, uncountable (Courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank. At university I took honours in modern history.

Similar: chivalry, glory, gentlemanliness

verb honors · honoring · honored · honour

  1. US, transitive To think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of. The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.
  2. US, transitive To conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like). I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.
  3. US, transitive To confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone). Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.
  4. US, transitive To make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.). I'm sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.

interjection honour

  1. US, archaic On one's honor; truthfully. “Not a ha’porth. Different gangs and different ships. He was tried again for prison breaking, and got made a Lifer.” “And was that—Honour!—the only time you worked out, in this part of the country?” “The only time.”

Honor²

Where it comes from

Shortened from Honoria and Honora; later also interpreted as a virtue name by Puritans.

proper noun Honors · Honour

  1. A female given name from English. They had named the baby Honor because Eugenie had been moved by Honoré de Balzac's Le Père Goriot in her French class.
  2. A surname.

Honor³

proper noun

  1. Former name of Honnavar (“Indian town”).

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