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Honour
Honour (or honor in American English; either spelling in Canadian English) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a code of conduct, and has various elements such as valor, chivalry, honesty, and compassion. It is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or institution such as a family, school, regiment or nation. Accordingly, individuals (or institutions) are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions with a specific code of honour, and the moral code of the society at large.
Samuel Johnson, in his A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), defined honour as having several senses, the first of which was “nobility of soul, magnanimity, and a scorn of meanness”.
This sort of honour derives from the perceived virtuous conduct and personal integrity of the person endowed with it. On the other hand, Johnson also defined honour in relationship to “reputation” and “fame”; to “privileges of rank or birth”, and as “respect” of the kind which “places an individual socially and determines his right to precedence”. This sort of honour is often not so much a function of moral or ethical excellence, as it is a consequence of power. Finally, with respect to sexuality, honour has traditionally been associated with (or identical to) “chastity” or “virginity”, or in case of married men and women, “fidelity”. Some have argued that honour should be seen more as a rhetoric, or set of possible actions, than as a code.
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Honor (noun)
recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright and/or competent
“The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.”
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Honor (noun)
the state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity
“He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.”
“His honor was unstained.”
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Honor (noun)
a token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen
“Honors are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen’s Birthday in June and at the New Year.”
“He wore an honor on his breast.”
“military honors; civil honors”
“Audie Murphy received many honors, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.”
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Honor (noun)
a privilege
“I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.”
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Honor (noun)
the privilege of going first
“I’ll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.”
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Honor (noun)
a cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
“He is an honour to his nation.”
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Honor (noun)
a seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended
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Honor (noun)
the center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon honour point}}
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Honor (noun)
In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
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Honor (noun)
(courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank
“At university I took honours in modern history.”
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Honor (verb)
to think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of
“The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.”
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Honor (verb)
to conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like)
“I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.”
“refuse to honor the test ban treaty”
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Honor (verb)
to confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone)
“Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.”
“The prince honored me with an invitation to his birthday banquet.”
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Honor (verb)
to make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker’s draft, etc.)
“I’m sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.”
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Honour (noun)
standard spelling of honor|from=British spelling|from2=Canadian spelling|from3=Commonwealth|from4=Ireland
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Honour (verb)
standard spelling of honor|from=British spelling|from2=Canadian spelling|from3=Commonwealth|from4=Ireland
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Honour (noun)
high respect; great esteem
“his portrait hangs in the place of honour”
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Honour (noun)
a person or thing that brings esteem
“you are an honour to our profession”
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Honour (noun)
a title of respect or form of address given to a circuit judge, a US mayor, and (in Irish or rustic speech) any person of rank.
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Honour (noun)
the quality of knowing and doing what is morally right
“I must as a matter of honour avoid any taint of dishonesty”
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Honour (noun)
a woman’s chastity or her reputation for being chaste
“she died defending her honour”
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Honour (noun)
something regarded as a rare opportunity and bringing pride and pleasure; a privilege
“Mrs Young had the honour of being received by the Queen”
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Honour (noun)
a thing conferred as a distinction, especially an official award for bravery or achievement
“the highest military honours”
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Honour (noun)
a special distinction for proficiency in an examination
“she passed with honours”
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Honour (noun)
a course of degree studies more specialized than for an ordinary pass
“an honours degree in mathematics”
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Honour (noun)
the right of driving off first, having won the previous hole
“Kyle had the honour at the last hole”
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Honour (noun)
an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.
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Honour (noun)
possession in one’s hand of at least four of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of trumps, or of all four aces in no trumps, for which a bonus is scored.
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Honour (noun)
(in whist) an ace, king, queen, or jack of trumps.
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Honour (verb)
regard with great respect
“they honoured their parents in all they did”
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Honour (verb)
pay public respect to
“talented writers were honoured at a special ceremony”
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Honour (verb)
fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)
“make sure the franchisees honour the terms of the contract”
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Honour (verb)
accept (a bill) or pay (a cheque) when due
“the bank informed him that the cheque would not be honoured”