honor English · revision 3951

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la honor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒn.ə/, US /ˈɑː.nɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|onur]], honour,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|honour]], Old French onor, honor “honour, dignity, distinction, position; victory, triumph” (modern French honneur),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|honor]] (accusative honōrem; nominative honōs, the form Cicero used) “honour, dignity, office, reputation”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which is of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The initial h is a Latinate correction begun in early Old French, for a sound that had vanished before the word came to English.^(Etymonline) The verb is from Old French onorer, from [[m|la|honōrāre|t=to honour]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[honorable]], [[honorary]] and [[honest]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Glory, renown, fame earned”: about 1200 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1300 it was used of respect paid, a gesture of esteem, nobleness of character, high rank, a mark of respect and a source of glory.^(Etymonline) A woman's chastity is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) 1390 in the OED.^(OED 1989) “One's personal title to high respect” is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in Middle English it could also mean “splendour, beauty; excellence”.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to show respect to”, is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) and in commerce, to accept or pay a bill when due, from 1706, through the notion of a duty of respect.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Hamlet's “more honoured in the breach than the observance” means a custom one deserves more honour for breaking than keeping, though it is often quoted to mean a rule more often broken than kept.^(Etymonline) An ''honor roll'' in schools is attested by 1872.^(Etymonline) Until the 17th century honour and honor were equally frequent; honour came to be preferred in England, and honor in the United States through the influence of Noah Webster.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – glory, renown.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-13th century – verb, to show respect to.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – respect paid; high rank.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – chastity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – personal integrity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – to pay a bill.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1872 – ''honor roll''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # High [[respect]] or regard.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Good name; [[reputation]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A source of credit: ''an honor to the profession''.^(AHD)

+ # Glory or distinction, or a mark or token of it, such as a decoration or title.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Personal [[integrity]]; a keen sense of right and wrong.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A privilege: ''had the honor of meeting them''.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(dated)'' A woman's [[chastity]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''Your Honor'', a title for a judge or official.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold in respect; to [[esteem]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To confer distinction on.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To accept or pay as valid: ''honor a check''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To fulfil the terms of: ''honor a commitment''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[honorer]]

+ * [[honoree]]

+ * [[honorless]]

+ * [[honorand]]

+ * [[dishonorable]]

+ * [[honorable]]

+ * [[honorary]]

+ * [[honorific]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[honour]]

+ * [[honest]]

+ * [[dishonor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Honor is the American spelling and honour the British one.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The American Heritage distinguishes honor, the most general term for the esteem due to another, from homage, reverence, veneration and deference.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}