honor

plural honors · alternative Commonwealth Ireland UK honour

1. USuncountableRecognition of importance or value; respect; veneration (of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful).

   The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.

   2 more examples

   A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 13:57

   And when the long-illumined cities flame, / Their ever-loyal iron leader's fame, / With honour, honour, honour, honour to him, / Eternal honour to his name.

   1852, Alfred Tennyson, “Stanza X”, in Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 14

2. USuncountableThe state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity.

   His honor was unstained.

   2 more examples

   He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.

   Prothean: Those who share my purpose become allies. Those who do not become casualties. Shepard: Nothing in our fight against the Reapers has been that cut-and-dried. Prothean: Because you still have hope that this war will end with your honor intact. Shepard: I do. Prothean: Stand in the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters. Prothean: The silence is your answer.

   2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3: From Ashes (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2

   Synonyms: integrity, rectitude, uprightness, angelicality, angelicalness, angelicity, angelicness, decency

3. UScountableA token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen.

   military honors; civil honors

   4 more examples

   Honors are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen's Birthday in June and at the New Year.

   He wore an honor on his breast.

   Audie Murphy received many honors, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.

   their funeral honours

   1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

4. UScountableuncountableA privilege (which honors the person experiencing it).

   I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.

5. UScountablein pluraluncountableThe privilege of going first.

   I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.

   1. UScountablein pluraluncountablegolfThe right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
6. UScountableuncountableA cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.

   He is an honour to his nation.

7. UScountableuncountablefeudal lawA seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.

   The lorde of the honour or manour

   1523, Anthony Fitzherbert, Book of Surveying

8. UScountablegovernmentThe center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon (compare honour point).
9. UScountablecard gamesIn bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit; in some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
   1. UScountableboard gamesa dragon or wind tile.
10. UScountablein pluraluncountable(Courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank.

    At university I took honours in modern history.

present singular third person honors · participle present honoring · participle past honored · past honored · alternative Commonwealth Ireland UK honour

1. UStransitiveTo think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of.

   The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.

   Synonyms: esteem, laud, worthy, aggrandize, applaud, enthrone, appraise, belaud · Antonyms: despise, condemn

2. UStransitiveTo conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like).

   I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.

   2 more examples

   Our wishes were honored by changing the date of the wedding.

   Some application software does not honor the theme colors chosen in the operating system settings.

3. UStransitiveTo confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone).

   Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.

   1 more example

   The prince honored me with an invitation to his birthday banquet.

   Synonyms: dignify, elevate, uplift, advance, aggrandize, dignify, elevate, ennoble

4. UStransitiveTo make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.).

   I'm sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.

alternative Commonwealth Ireland UK honour

1. USarchaicOn one's honor; truthfully.

   “Not a ha’porth. Different gangs and different ships. He was tried again for prison breaking, and got made a Lifer.” “And was that—Honour!—the only time you worked out, in this part of the country?” “The only time.”

   1861, Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

plural Honors · alternative Honour

1. A female given name from English.

   They had named the baby Honor because Eugenie had been moved by Honoré de Balzac's Le Père Goriot in her French class.

   2004, Annie Proulx, Bad Dirt, Fourth Estate, →ISBN, page 104

2. A surname.

1. Former name of Honnavar (“Indian town”).