catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Honor \Hon"or\, n. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor,
     onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor,
     honos.] [Written also honour.]
     1. Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect;
        consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of
        respect or reverence.
  
              A prophet is not without honor, save in his own
              country.                              --Matt. xiii.
                                                    57.
  
     2. That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or
        consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity;
        especially, excellence of character; high moral worth;
        virtue; nobleness; specif., in men, integrity;
        uprightness; trustworthness; in women, purity; chastity.
  
              If she have forgot Honor and virtue.  --Shak.
  
              Godlike erect, with native honor clad. --Milton.
  
     3. A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course
        of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the
        duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege.
  
              Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest sense Of
              justice which the human mind can frame, Intent each
              lurking frailty to disclaim, And guard the way of
              life from all offense Suffered or done.
                                                    --Wordsworth.
  
              I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not
              honor more.                           --Lovelace.
  
     4. That to which esteem or consideration is paid;
        distinguished position; high rank. ``Restored me to my
        honors.'' --Shak.
  
              I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor. --1
                                                    Kings iii. 13.
  
              Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. --Ps. civ.
                                                    1.
  
     5. Fame; reputation; credit.
  
              Some in theiractions do woo, and affect honor and
              reputation.                           --Bacon.
  
              If my honor is meant anything distinct from
              conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the
              censure and esteem of the world.      --Rogers.
  
     6. A token of esteem paid to worth; a mark of respect; a
        ceremonial sign of consideration; as, he wore an honor on
        his breast; military honors; civil honors. ``Their funeral
        honors.'' --Dryden.
  
     7. A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an
        ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
  
     8. A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil
        offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor.
        See Note under Honorable.
  
     9. (Feud. Law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on
        which other lordships and manors depended. --Cowell.
  
     10. pl. Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as,
         honors in classics.
  
     11. pl. (Whist) The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The
         ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors. --R. A.
         Proctor.
  
     Affair of honor, a dispute to be decided by a duel, or the
        duel itself.
  
     Court of honor, a court or tribunal to investigate and
        decide questions relating to points of honor; as a court
        of chivalry, or a military court to investigate acts or
        omissions which are unofficerlike or ungentlemanly in
        their nature.
  
     Debt of honor, a debt contracted by a verbal promise, or by
        betting or gambling, considered more binding than if
        recoverable by law.
  
     Honor bright! An assurance of truth or fidelity. [Colloq.]
        
  
     Honor court (Feudal Law), one held in an honor or seignory.
        
  
     Honor point. (Her.) See Escutcheon.
  
     Honors of war (Mil.), distinctions granted to a vanquished
        enemy, as of marching out from a camp or town armed, and
        with colors flying.
  
     Law, or Code, of honor, certain rules by which social
        intercourse is regulated among persons of fashion, and
        which are founded on a regard to reputation. --Paley.
  
     Maid of honor, a lady of rank, whose duty it is to attend
        the queen when she appears in public.