Honor
Honor:Meaning and Origin
Honor is a noun meaning great respect, esteem, or a good reputation. It can also mean personal integrity, moral uprightness, or a privilege or mark of recognition. As a verb, to honor means to respect someone, recognize their achievements, or keep a promise.
Simple meaning
In everyday English, honor often means treating someone with respect or behaving in an honest and morally good way.
For example, “She received an award in honor of her work” means that the award recognized and respected her achievements. “He honored his promise” means that he did what he had promised to do.
Main meanings
- High respect: admiration or esteem given to someone. Example:The soldier was honored for bravery.
- A good reputation: the respect a person earns through their actions. Example:He protected the honor of his family.
- Personal integrity: honesty, fairness, and strong moral principles. Example:She acted with honor.
- A privilege: something that makes a person feel proud or respected. Example:It is an honor to speak here today.
- A mark of recognition: an award, title, or public tribute. Example:He received the highest honors from the university.
- To respect or celebrate: as a verb, to show respect for a person, event, or promise. Example:The ceremony honored the city’s founders.
- To keep an agreement: to fulfill a promise, contract, or obligation. Example:The company honored the warranty.
Pronunciation and grammar
Honor is pronounced /ˈɒnər/ in British English and /ˈɑːnər/ in American English, roughly “ON-er” or AH-ner.” The initial h is silent.
- Noun: honor / honour
- Verb: to honor / to honour
- Past tense: honored / honoured
- Present participle: honoring / honouring
- Adjective: honorable / honourable
- Adverb: honorably / honourably
Origin of the word
The word honor comes from the Latin honor, earlier written honos. In Latin, it meant esteem, respect, public office, dignity, reputation, or a mark of distinction.
The word entered English through Old French and Anglo-Norman. The Old French forms included onor, onur, and honor. English adopted the word around the 12th and 13th centuries, initially with meanings such as glory, fame, dignity, and high rank.
The word path is roughly:
- Latin:honos / honor, meaning “esteem,” “dignity,” “public office,” or “reputation”
- Old French:onor / onur, meaning “honor,” “dignity,” or “distinction”
- Anglo-Norman:honour / honur
- Middle English:honour / honor / onur, meaning “glory,” “renown,” or “respect earned”
- Modern English:honor / honour, meaning “respect,” “integrity,” “privilege,” or “recognition”
The Latin adjective honestus, meaning “honorable,” “respected,” or “deserving honor,” is related to the same Latin root. This is also connected to the English word honest.
Interesting facts
- The “h” is silent: Although modern English writes honor or honour, the h is not pronounced. Early English forms such as onur and anour did not have it.
- The “h” was added later: Scholars added the h because they knew the word came from Latin honor. The spelling was changed to look more Latin, even though the pronunciation did not change.
- Honor and honesty are related: Both words trace back to Latin roots connected with respect, integrity, and moral worth. Honestus means “honorable” or “respected,” while honestas relates to moral integrity.
- Honor once meant land or privilege: In medieval usage, an “honor” could refer to a large estate or a group of lands granted by a ruler to an important supporter. The word could therefore describe both social rank and property.
- Ancient Rome had a goddess named Honos: Honos was associated with military honor, bravery, and justice. The Roman concept of honor was closely connected to public service, reputation, and duty.
- Honor and honesty were not always identical: In Roman thought, honos often referred to public esteem, rank, or recognition, while honestas more strongly conveyed moral goodness and integrity. Over time, English “honor” combined both ideas.
- Shakespeare used both spellings: Before spelling became standardized, English writers used forms such as honor, honour, honur, and honnor. Shakespeare used both honor and honour, though he more often used honor.
Honor vs. honour
| Spelling | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Honor | Respect, integrity, privilege, recognition, or the act of showing respect | The standard spelling in American English. |
| Honour | The same meaning as honor | The standard spelling in British English and many other varieties of English outside the United States. |
Examples
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A matter of honor | Something that affects a person’s reputation, integrity, or moral duty. |
| Guest of honor | The most important or specially respected guest at an event. |
| In honor of | As a way to show respect for or commemorate someone. |
| With honors | With special academic recognition or high achievement. |
| Honor code | A set of rules based on honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior. |
| Honor system | A system based on trust, where people are expected to behave honestly without close supervision. |
| Honor a promise | To keep an agreement or do what one said one would do. |
| Honor a request | To accept and carry out someone’s request. |
Related words
- Honorable: deserving respect; showing honesty and good moral character. Example:She made an honorable decision.
- Honorary: given as an honor, often without the usual duties or payment. Example:He received an honorary degree.
- Honored: respected, recognized, or feeling proud because of recognition. Example:I am honored to receive this award.
- Dishonor: loss of respect, shame, or disgrace; as a verb, to bring shame upon someone or break an agreement.
- Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
- Prestige: widespread respect and admiration earned through achievements or status.
- Respect: admiration for someone because of their qualities, achievements, or position.
- Esteem: respect and admiration, often for a person’s character or abilities.
In short:honor comes from Latin honor or honos, meaning respect, dignity, reputation, or public distinction. It later developed to include personal integrity, moral duty, privilege, and public recognition.