[hon.or] n [ME, fr. OF honor, fr. L honos, honor] (13c) 1 a: good name or public esteem: reputation b: a showing of usu. merited respect: recognition "pay ~ to our founder"
2: privilege
3: a person of superior standing--now used esp. as a title for a holder of high office "if Your Honor please"
4: one whose worth brings respect or fame: credit "an ~ to the profession"
5: the center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon
6: an evidence or symbol of distinction: as a: an exalted title or rank b (1): badge, decoration (2): a ceremonial rite or observance "buried with full military ~s" c: an award in a contest or field of competition d archaic: a gesture of deference: bow e pl (1): an academic distinction conferred on a superior student (2): a course of study for superior students supplementing or replacing a regular course 7: chastity, purity "fought fiercely for her ~ and her life --Barton Black"
8. a: a keen sense of ethical conduct: integrity b: one's word given as a guarantee of performance
9. pl: social courtesies or civilities extended by a host "did the ~s at the table"
10. a (1): an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten esp. of the trump suit in bridge (2): the scoring value of honors held in bridge--usu. used in pl. b: the privilege of playing first from the tee in golf syn honor, homage, reverence, deference mean respect and esteem shown to another. honor may apply to the recognition of one's right to great respect or to any expression of such recognition "the nomination is an honor". homage adds the implication of accompanying praise "paying homage to Shakespeare". reverence implies profound respect mingled with love, devotion, or awe "great reverence for my father". deference implies a yielding or submitting to another's judgment or preference out of respect or reverence "showed no deference to their elders". syn see in addition honesty
[2]honor vt hon.ored ; hon.or.ing (13c) 1 a: to regard or treat with honor or respect b: to confer honor on
2. a: to live up to or fulfill the terms of "~ a commitment" b: to accept as payment "~ a credit card"
3: to salute with a bow in square dancing -- hon.or.ee n -- hon.or.er n