Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • Brit. Same as honor; -- chiefly British usage.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Recognition of importance or spiritual value; respect.
  • noun Favourable reputation; dignity; sense of self-worth.
  • noun An objectification of praiseworthiness or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as an award given by the state to a citizen.
  • noun A privilege.
  • noun heraldry The centre point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon; also honour point.
  • noun card games In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
  • noun golf The right to play one's ball before one's opponent plays his.
  • noun in the plural =honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank.
  • verb To think of highly, to respect highly, to recognise the importance or spiritual value of
  • verb To confer an honour or privilege upon (someone).
  • verb To conform with, obey (e.g. a treaty or promise)
  • verb To make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft etc).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a woman's virtue or chastity
  • verb show respect towards
  • verb bestow honor or rewards upon
  • verb accept as pay
  • noun the quality of being honorable and having a good name
  • noun the state of being honored
  • noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Anglo-Norman honour, honur, from Old French honor, from Latin honor. Displaced native Middle English menske ("honor, dignity among men"), from Old English mensk ("honor").

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Examples

  • I give you my word of honour as a man -- my word of _honour_, mind you!

    The Seeker Harry Leon Wilson 1903

  • In speaking to them, however, they always used the most abject language, and the most humble tone and posture -- "_Please your honour; and please your honour's honour_" they knew must be repeated as a charm at the beginning and end of every equivocating, exculpatory, or supplicatory sentence; and they were much more alert in doffing their caps to these new men, than to those of what they call _good old families_.

    Tales and Novels — Volume 04 Maria Edgeworth 1808

  • _must_ vindicate his honour yet where I have known such things happen they might have been prevented _with honour_ if the parties had not allowed their passions to get the better of their reason; and you must remember there is never honour to be acquired by being quarrelsome, but the reverse, and that your life ought now to be devoted to the service of your King and country.

    A Canadian Manor and Its Seigneurs The Story of a Hundred Years, 1761-1861 George M. Wrong

  • Let no critic cavil at the word _honourably_, as it relates to trade: punctual payment is the honour of trade, and there is a word always used among merchants which justifies my using it in this place; and that is, when a merchant draws a bill from abroad upon his friend at London, his correspondent in London answering his letter, and approving his drawing upon him, adds, that he shall be sure to _honour_ his bill when it appears; that is to say, to accept it.

    The Complete English Tradesman (1839 ed.) Daniel Defoe 1696

  • a sentry pull off his fire, can swear that such was the case with that officer -- he can do more than swearing, for he can give his word of honour, and I think that idea _honour_ is the same in every country.

    Memoirs, Correspondence and Manuscripts of General Lafayette Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette 1795

  • "The world pays civil honour to it [a jewel said to be Alfred's] on the probability; we pay _religious honour_ to relics, if so be, on the probability.

    Apologia pro Vita Sua John Henry Newman 1845

  • I. iii.66 (24,4) It is an honour] The modern editors all read, _it is an honour_.

    Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies Samuel Johnson 1746

  • A fool, a wicked man, in honour, is really as despicable an animal as any under the sun; he is like the beasts that perish (v. 20); nay, it is better to be a beast than to be a man that makes himself like a beast.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721

  • For some reason, the term honour killings seems to be reserved for murders committed by male family members against daughters or sisters in South Asian or Middle Eastern communities.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed 2010

  • The term honour killing itself should be thrown out for one.

    The Times of India 2010

Comments

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  • "The word 'honour' in the mouth of Mr Webster is like the word 'love' in the mouth of a whore". Ralph Waldo Emerson of Daniel Webster, US politician.

    December 29, 2006

  • ouch. that one hurt.

    November 28, 2008