onore Italian · revision 37967

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=12th century, Ritmo di Sant'Alessio|origins=la honor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /oˈno.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''onore''' ''m'' (plural onori)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old variants include [[roa-oit|aonore]] and [[roa-oit|aunore]].^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ DELI and the GDLI treat it as a learned word, [[bor|la|honor|t=honour, esteem; public office]], from the accusative ⟨honōrem⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003) Wiktionary and Nocentini instead derive it by direct descent from Latin, and Nocentini lists the Romance outcomes [[fro|enor]], [[pro|enor]], [[ca|onor]] and [[es|honor]]; modern [[fr|honneur]] was remade on the Latin.^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010) Meyer-Lübke adds [[dlm|onaur]], and notes that in Carolingian Latin, Old French, Old Occitan and Old Spanish the word also meant “fief”.^(REW 1935) DEI starts from [[la-lat|honor]], which replaced classical [[m|la|honōs]], still used in the Empire.^(DEI|2658)

+

+ The origin of the Latin noun is unknown.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds that ⟨hon-⟩ can only go back to [[ine-pro|*ǵʰon-]] or [[m|ine-pro|*gʰon-]], but that no cognates are known.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Devoto and the GDLI connect it with an old neuter ⟨*honus⟩, the base of [[m|la|honestus]] and Italian [[onesto]].^(Devoto 1968)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the 12th-century ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio'', in the sense “homage, deference”.^(DELI 1999) The sense “glory, fame” follows in the ''Breve di Montieri'' of 1219, the date GRADIT gives for the word.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 13th century the word took in moral integrity (Guido Faba), a good name and the sense of one's own dignity (Chiaro Davanzati), the worship of God (in the Judaeo-Italian ''Elegia''), and special treatment given to a person (Brunetto Latini).^(DELI 1999) High office is recorded in Giordano da Pisa, before 1311, and an honour granted as a mark of distinction in Giovanni Villani.^(DELI 1999) Dante writes of the poets in Limbo: “Fannomi onore, e di ciò fanno bene” (they do me honour, and in that they do well).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ Several phrases came from French: ''fare gli onori di casa'' translates ''faire les honneurs de la maison'' and is recorded in the 17th century, and ''avere l'onore'' was common in the 18th.^(DELI 1999) The adjective ''onorevole'' became the title of members of parliament in 1780, after French and ultimately English usage, and the noun ''onorevole'' “MP” is recorded in 1867.^(DELI 1999) ''Onorario'' “fee”, recorded in 1585, was money given as a mark of honour, since a lawyer's or doctor's service was thought too noble to be priced.^(DELI 1999) In card games ''onori'' are the high cards (1939–1940).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – The ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio'' has ''onore'' for homage.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1219 – The ''Breve di Montieri'' uses it for glory and fame.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 13th century – Guido Faba uses it for moral integrity.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for special treatment.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1311 – Giordano da Pisa uses it for a high office.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1585 – ''Onorario'' “fee” is recorded in Tommaso Garzoni.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 17th century – ''Fare gli onori di casa'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1780 – ''Onorevole'' is used as the title of members of parliament.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1939–1940 – ''Onore'' is recorded in card games.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|honour]], a person's good name and moral integrity: ''Ha difeso il suo onore davanti a tutti'', ''parola d'onore'', word of honour.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(dated)'' In some societies, a woman's [[m|en|chastity]] and the family's reputation tied to it.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|glory]], credit, something to be proud of: ''Questa vittoria è un onore per tutta la città.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A privilege, especially in polite formulas: ''Ho l'onore di presentarvi il nostro ospite.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A mark of respect or esteem; in the plural, honours: ''La squadra è stata ricevuta in municipio con tutti gli onori'', ''in onore di'', in honour of.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Worship paid to God or the saints.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(card games)'' An honour card.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[onorare]]

+ * [[onorato]]

+ * [[onorevole]]

+ * [[onoranza]]

+ * [[onorabile]]

+ * [[onorabilità]]

+ * [[onoratezza]]

+ * [[disonore]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[onorifico]]

+ * [[onorario]]

+ * [[onorificenza]]

+ * [[onesto]]

+ * [[la|honor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''fare onore a'' “to do credit to”, ''fare onore al piatto'' “to eat with appetite”, ''a onor del vero'' “to tell the truth” and ''damigella d'onore'' “bridesmaid”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020) The ''delitto d'onore'', a killing for “honour” once punished lightly, was abolished in 1981.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}