homage

[ hom-ij, om-; oh-mahzh ]

noun

1. respect or reverence paid or rendered:

   In his speech he paid homage to Washington and Jefferson.

   Synonyms: tribute, honor, obeisance, deference

   Antonyms: irreverence

2. the formal public acknowledgment by which a feudal tenant or vassal declared himself to be the man or vassal of his lord, owing him fealty and service.
3. the relation thus established of a vassal to his lord.

   Synonyms: devotion, loyalty, fidelity

   Antonyms: disloyalty

4. something done or given in acknowledgment or consideration of the worth of another:

   a Festschrift presented as an homage to a great teacher.

homage

/ ˈhɒmɪdʒ /

noun

1. a public show of respect or honour towards someone or something (esp in the phrases pay or do homage to )
2. in feudal society
   1. the act of respect and allegiance made by a vassal to his lord See also fealty
   2. something done in acknowledgment of vassalage

verb

1. archaic.
   to render homage to

homage

1. Under feudalism , the personal submission of a vassal to a lord, by which the vassal pledged to serve the lord and the lord to protect the vassal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of homage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (h)omage, from Old French, equivalent to (h)ome “man” (from Latin hominem, accusative of homō; Homo ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of homage¹

C13: from Old French, from home man, from Latin homo

Example Sentences

In his native Georgia and in the U.S. capital, much of the next week is expected to be filled with ceremonial homage to Carter.

From Los Angeles Times

In it, the Puerto Rican singer pays homage to the infectious Caribbean rhythms, teetering between his bad-boy image and sensual energy.

From Los Angeles Times

Biden has asked that 9 January be used to pay homage to America's 39th president, James Earl Carter Jr.

From BBC

The original fan clarified that the altered film promo was intended to be "an innocent fan edit to pay homage to the original Broadway poster".

From BBC

It’s a relationship that pays homage to iconic erotic thrillers while undercutting what’s expected from the genre in a way that forces the viewer to confront conceptions about gender, power and sex.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allegiance
• deference
• loyalty
• reverence
• tribute