Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
honour [on-er] SynonymsExamples noun, verb (used with object), adjective Chiefly British.
Usage note See -or1. honor [on-er] noun
- honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions: a man of honor.
- a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one’s family.
- high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.
- such respect manifested: a memorial in honor of the dead.
- high public esteem; fame; glory: He has earned his position of honor.
- the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.: to have the honor of serving on a prize jury; I have the honor of introducing this evening’s speaker.
- Usually honors. evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank, dignity, or distinction: political honors; military honors.
- (initial capital letter) a deferential title of respect, especially for judges and mayors (preceded by His, Her, Your, etc.).
- honors,
- special rank or distinction conferred by a university, college, or school upon a student for eminence in scholarship or success in some particular subject.
- an advanced course of study for superior students.Compare honors course.
- chastity or purity in a woman.
- Also called honor card. Cards.
- Bridge.any of the five highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten in the trump suit, or any of the four aces in a no-trump contract.Compare honor trick.
- Whist.any of the four highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, or jack in the trump suit.
- Golf. the privilege of teeing off before the other player or side, given after the first hole to the player or side that won the previous hole.
verb (used with object)
- to hold in honor or high respect; revere: to honor one’s parents.
- to treat with honor.
- to confer honor or distinction upon: The university honored him with its leadership award.
- to worship (the Supreme Being).
- to show a courteous regard for: to honor an invitation.
- Commerce. to accept or pay (a draft, check, etc.): All credit cards are honored here.
- to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of (an official document).
- (in square dancing) to meet or salute with a bow.
adjective
- of, relating to, or noting honor.
Idioms
- be on/upon one’s honor, to accept and acknowledge personal responsibility for one’s actions: West Point cadets are on their honor not to cheat on an exam.
- do honor to,
- to show respect to.
- to be a credit to: Such good students would do honor to any teacher.
- do the honors, to serve or preside as host, as in introducing people, or carving or serving at table: Father did the honors at the family Thanksgiving dinner.
Also especially British, hon·our. Origin of honor 1150–1200; (noun) Middle English (h)on(o)ur Anglo-French (Old French (h)onor, onur) Latin honōr- (stem of honor, earlier honōs); (v.) Middle English Anglo-French (h)on(o)urer Latin honōrāre, derivative of honor Related formshon·or·er, nounhon·or·less, adjectiveo·ver·hon·or, verb (used with object)re·hon·or, verb (used with object)self-hon·ored, adjectiveun·hon·ored, adjectiveSynonyms for honor 1. probity, uprightness. 3. deference, homage; reverence, veneration. 5. distinction. 13. esteem, venerate.Synonym study 1. Honor, honesty, integrity, sincerity refer to the highest moral principles and the absence of deceit or fraud. Honor denotes a fine sense of, and a strict conformity to, what is considered morally right or due: a high sense of honor; on one’s honor. Honesty denotes the presence of probity and particularly the absence of deceit or fraud, especially in business dealings: uncompromising honesty and trustworthiness. Integrity indicates a soundness of moral principle that no power or influence can impair: a man of unquestioned integrity and dependability. Sincerity implies absence of dissimulation or deceit, and a strong adherence to truth: His sincerity was evident in every word. 3. Honor, consideration, distinction refer to the regard in which one is held by others. Honor suggests a combination of liking and respect: His colleagues held him in great honor. Consideration suggests honor because of proved worth: a man worthy of the highest consideration. Distinction suggests particular honor because of qualities or accomplishments: She achieved distinction as a violinist at an early age. Antonyms for honor 1. dishonor, dishonesty. Examples from the Web for honour Contemporary Examples of honour
Harry was guest of honour at youth empowerment charity We Day, and sat with his girlfriend Cressida in the audience.
Cressida At Harry’s Side At Official Event – Engagement Rumors Ramp Up!
Tom Sykes
March 7, 2014
The honour is within the personal gift of Her Majesty and is the highest order of chivalry in the land.
Naughty Harry Passed Over for Order of Garter
Tom Sykes
April 24, 2013
“They forced us to pick up guns to defend our honour,” he said.
The Last Days of the Americans in Afghanistan
William Dalrymple
April 21, 2013
This was reported by the Toronto Sun, which quoted Councillor Joe Mihevc as saying: “He did not do honour to our good city.”
How Rob Ford’s Drinking Affects His Work
David Frum
March 27, 2013
Now the town of Picton is considering an ambitious new plan to honour Macdonald: a bronze statue of Macdonald as a young lawyer.
Let’s Properly Honor Canadian Icon John A. Macdonald
David Frum
November 17, 2012
Historical Examples of honour
Festivals in honour of Zeus, because he delivered men from misfortunes and dangers.
Lydia Maria Child
This festival, in honour of Dionysus, was observed with great splendour.
Lydia Maria Child
Ceremonies at Eleusis, in honour of Demeter, observed with great secrecy.
Lydia Maria Child
This was a common practice during the festival of Thargelia, in honour of Phœbus.
Lydia Maria Child
King Henry often looked in on these matches, and did honour to the winners.
Charlotte M. Yonge
British Dictionary definitions for honour honour US honor noun
- personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles
-
- fame or glory
- a person or thing that wins this for anotherhe is an honour to the school
- (often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this
- (often plural) high or noble rank
- a privilege or pleasureit is an honour to serve you
- a woman’s virtue or chastity
-
- bridge pokerany of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps
- whistany of the top four cards
- golf the right to tee off first
- do honour to
- to pay homage to
- to be a credit to
- do the honours
- to serve as host or hostess
- to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc
- honour bright British school slang an exclamation pledging honour
- in honour bound under a moral obligation
- in honour of out of respect for
- on one’s honour or upon one’s honour on the pledge of one’s word or good name
verb (tr)
- to hold in respect or esteem
- to show courteous behaviour towards
- to worship
- to confer a distinction upon
- to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)
- to keep (one’s promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)
- to bow or curtsy to (one’s dancing partner)
See also honours Derived Formshonourer or US honorer, nounhonourless or US honorless, adjectiveWord Origin for honour C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem Honour noun
- (preceded by Your, His, or Her)
- a title used to or of certain judges
- (in Ireland) a form of address in general use
honor noun, verb
- the US spelling of honour
Word Origin and History for honour
chiefly British English spelling of honor; also see -or. Related: Honoured; honouring; honours.
honor n.
c.1200, “glory, renown, fame earned,” from Anglo-French honour, Old French honor (Modern French honneur), from Latin honorem (nominative honos, later honor) “honor, dignity, office, reputation,” of unknown origin. Till 17c., honour and honor were equally frequent; the former now preferred in England, the latter in U.S. by influence of Noah Webster’s spelling reforms. Meaning “a woman’s chastity” first attested late 14c. Honors “distinction in scholarship” attested by 1782. Honor roll in the scholastic sense attested by 1872. To do the honors (1650s) originally meant the customary civilities and courtesies at a public entertainment, etc.
honor v.
mid-13c., honuren, “to do honor to,” from Old French honorer, from Latin honorare, from honor (see honor (n.)). In the commercial sense of “accept a bill due, etc.,” it is recorded from 1706. Related: Honored; honoring.
A custom more honoured in the breach than the observance. Whoever will look up the passage (Hamlet I. iv. 16) will see that it means, beyond a doubt, a custom that one deserves more honour for breaking than for keeping: but it is often quoted in the wrong & very different sense of a dead letter or rule more often broken than kept. [Fowler] Idioms and Phrases with honour honor
In addition to the idiom beginning with honor
also see: