honour

[on-er]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. honor.

honour

¹

/ ˈɒnə /

noun

1. personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles

2. 1. fame or glory

   2. a person or thing that wins this for another

      he is an honour to the school

3. (often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this

4. (often plural) high or noble rank

5. a privilege or pleasure

   it is an honour to serve you

6. a woman's virtue or chastity

7. 1. bridge poker any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps

   2. whist any of the top four cards

8. golf the right to tee off first

9. 1. to pay homage to

   2. to be a credit to

10. 1. to serve as host or hostess

    2. to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc

11. slang:school,  an exclamation pledging honour

12. under a moral obligation

13. out of respect for

14. on the pledge of one's word or good name

verb

1. to hold in respect or esteem

2. to show courteous behaviour towards

3. to worship

4. to confer a distinction upon

5. to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)

6. to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)

7. to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)

Honour

²

/ ˈɒnə /

noun

1. 1. a title used to or of certain judges

   2. (in Ireland) a form of address in general use

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• honourless adjective
• honourer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of honour¹

C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem

Example Sentences

It was not just team honours he collected during that time.

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Sir Tom received many honours and accolades throughout his career, including being knighted by the late Queen for his services to literature in 1997.

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Long processions of women, many of them bearing a takli or spindle to honour Gandhi's commitment to homespun khadi cloth, take over Bombay's streets, quite literally pushing men to the very margins.

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"It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him."

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"It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him."

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