honour

[ on-er ]

/ ˈɒn ər /

noun, verb (used with object), adjective Chiefly British.

honor.

usage note for honour

See -or¹.

Words nearby honour

honorius ii, honorius iii, honorius iv, honors course, honors of war, honour, honour killing, honour moderations, honour school, honourable, honourable discharge

Definition for honours (2 of 2)

honor

[ on-er ]

/ ˈɒn ər /

noun

honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.

a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family.

high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.

such respect manifested: a memorial in honor of the dead.

high public esteem; fame; glory: He has earned his position of honor.

the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.: to have the honor of serving on a prize jury; I have the honor of introducing this evening's speaker.

Usually honors. evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank, dignity, or distinction: political honors; military honors.

(initial capital letter) a deferential title of respect, especially for judges and mayors (preceded by His, Her, Your, etc.).

honors,

special rank or distinction conferred by a university, college, or school upon a student for eminence in scholarship or success in some particular subject.
an advanced course of study for superior students.Compare honors course.

chastity or purity in a woman.

Also called honor card. Cards.

Bridge. any of the five highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten in the trump suit, or any of the four aces in a no-trump contract.Compare honor trick.
Whist. any of the four highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, or jack in the trump suit.

Golf. the privilege of teeing off before the other player or side, given after the first hole to the player or side that won the previous hole.

verb (used with object)

to hold in honor or high respect; revere: to honor one's parents.

to treat with honor.

to confer honor or distinction upon: The university honored him with its leadership award.

to worship (the Supreme Being).

to show a courteous regard for: to honor an invitation.

Commerce. to accept or pay (a draft, check, etc.): All credit cards are honored here.

to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of (an official document).

(in square dancing) to meet or salute with a bow.

adjective

of, relating to, or noting honor.

Also especially British, hon·our.

Origin of honor

1150–1200; (noun) Middle English ( h)on(o)ur < Anglo-French (Old French ( h)onor, onur) < Latin honōr- (stem of honor, earlier honōs); (v.) Middle English < Anglo-French ( h)on(o)urer < Latin honōrāre, derivative of honor

SYNONYMS FOR honor

1 probity, uprightness.

3 deference, homage; reverence, veneration.

5 distinction.

13 esteem, venerate.

ANTONYMS FOR honor

1 dishonor, dishonesty.

synonym study for honor

1. Honor, honesty, integrity, sincerity refer to the highest moral principles and the absence of deceit or fraud. Honor denotes a fine sense of, and a strict conformity to, what is considered morally right or due: a high sense of honor; on one's honor. Honesty denotes the presence of probity and particularly the absence of deceit or fraud, especially in business dealings: uncompromising honesty and trustworthiness. Integrity indicates a soundness of moral principle that no power or influence can impair: a man of unquestioned integrity and dependability. Sincerity implies absence of dissimulation or deceit, and a strong adherence to truth: His sincerity was evident in every word. 3. Honor, consideration, distinction refer to the regard in which one is held by others. Honor suggests a combination of liking and respect: His colleagues held him in great honor. Consideration suggests honor because of proved worth: a man worthy of the highest consideration. Distinction suggests particular honor because of qualities or accomplishments: She achieved distinction as a violinist at an early age.

OTHER WORDS FROM honor

hon·or·er, noun hon·or·less, adjective o·ver·hon·or, verb (used with object) re·hon·or, verb (used with object)

self-hon·ored, adjective un·hon·ored, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for honours

All the honours which a physician can possess I either enjoy, or have refused when they were offered to me.

Jerome Cardan |William George Waters
She received very good society, and did the honours of her drawing-room marvellously well.

The Memoires of Casanova, Complete |Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
The last remains of a relation are interred with all the honours that the family can afford.

Travels in China, Containing Descriptions, Observations, and Comparisons, Made and Collected in the Course of a Short Residence at the Imperial Palace of Yuen-Min-Yuen, and on a Subsequent Journey through the Country from Pekin to Canton |John Barrow
Biordo used his power well, and every year his fame and honours increased.

The Story of Perugia |Margaret Symonds

I asked one venerable looking officer, with his breast covered with honours, what he thought about the Mutiny.

A Soldier's Experience or A Voice from the Ranks: Showing the Cost of War in Blood and Treasure |Timothy Gowing

British Dictionary definitions for honours (1 of 4)

honours

US honors

/ (ˈɒnəz) /

pl n

observances of respect

(often capital)

(in a university degree or degree course) a rank of the highest academic standard
(as modifier)an honours degree Abbreviation: Hons Compare general (def. 9), pass (def. 35)

a high mark awarded for an examination; distinction

last honours or funeral honours observances of respect at a funeral

military honours ceremonies performed by troops in honour of royalty, at the burial of an officer, etc

British Dictionary definitions for honours (2 of 4)

honor

/ (ˈɒnə) /

noun, verb

the US spelling of honour

British Dictionary definitions for honours (3 of 4)

Honour

/ (ˈɒnə) /

noun

(preceded by Your, His, or Her)

a title used to or of certain judges
(in Ireland) a form of address in general use

British Dictionary definitions for honours (4 of 4)

honour

US honor

/ (ˈɒnə) /

noun

personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles

fame or glory
a person or thing that wins this for anotherhe is an honour to the school

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

(often plural) high or noble rank

a privilege or pleasure it is an honour to serve you

a woman's virtue or chastity

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

golf the right to tee off first

do honour to

to pay homage to
to be a credit to

do the honours

to serve as host or hostess
to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc

honour bright British school slang an exclamation pledging honour

in honour bound under a moral obligation

in honour of out of respect for

on one's honour or upon one's honour on the pledge of one's word or good name

verb (tr)

to hold in respect or esteem

to show courteous behaviour towards

to worship

to confer a distinction upon

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

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

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

Derived forms of honour

honourer or US honorer, noun honourless or US honorless, adjective

Word Origin for honour

C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem

Idioms and Phrases with honours

honor

In addition to the idiom beginning with honor

honor bound

also see:

do the honors
in honor of
on one's honor
word of honor

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

honour

noun, verb (used with object), adjective Chiefly British.

usage note for honour

Words nearby honour

Definition for honours (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

Origin of honor

SYNONYMS FOR honor

ANTONYMS FOR honor

synonym study for honor

OTHER WORDS FROM honor

Example sentences from the Web for honours

British Dictionary definitions for honours (1 of 4)

US honors

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for honours (2 of 4)

noun, verb

British Dictionary definitions for honours (3 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for honours (4 of 4)

US honor

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of honour

Word Origin for honour

Idioms and Phrases with honours