honour
Definitions
General English
- noun the practice of acting according to what you think is right
- verb to give someone an award to show that you respect them
Accounting
- verb to pay something because it is owed and is correct
Law
- verb to accept and pay a cheque or bill of exchange
Military
- noun a moral code of conduct
- noun an official or public recognition of a person’s achievement
Origin & History of “honour”
English acquired honour via Old French honour from honōr-, the stem form of Latin honōs (later honor). It is not known where the Latin word came from. Derivatives to reach English include honest, honesty, honorary (17th c.), and honorarium (17th c.) (which in Latin denoted virtually a bribe paid in order to get appointed to an honorary post).
