\Hon"or\, n. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor,
onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor,
honos.] [Written also {honour}.]
1. Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect;
   consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of
   respect or reverence.
         A prophet is not without honor, save in his own
         country.                              --Matt. xiii.
                                               57.
2. That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or
   consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity;
   especially, excellence of character; high moral worth;
   virtue; nobleness; specif., in men, integrity;
   uprightness; trustworthness; in women, purity; chastity.
         If she have forgot Honor and virtue.  --Shak.
         Godlike erect, with native honor clad. --Milton.
3. A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course
   of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the
   duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege.
         Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest sense Of
         justice which the human mind can frame, Intent each
         lurking frailty to disclaim, And guard the way of
         life from all offense Suffered or done.
                                               --Wordsworth.
         I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not
         honor more.                           --Lovelace.
4. That to which esteem or consideration is paid;
   distinguished position; high rank. ``Restored me to my
   honors.'' --Shak.
         I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor. --1
                                               Kings iii. 13.
         Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. --Ps. civ.
                                               1.
5. Fame; reputation; credit.
         Some in theiractions do woo, and affect honor and
         reputation.                           --Bacon.
         If my honor is meant anything distinct from
         conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the
         censure and esteem of the world.      --Rogers.
6. A token of esteem paid to worth; a mark of respect; a
   ceremonial sign of consideration; as, he wore an honor on
   his breast; military honors; civil honors. ``Their funeral
   honors.'' --Dryden.
7. A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an
   ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
8. A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil
   offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor.
   See Note under {Honorable}.
9. (Feud. Law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on
   which other lordships and manors depended. --Cowell.
10. pl. Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as,
    honors in classics.
11. pl. (Whist) The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The
    ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors. --R. A.
    Proctor.
{Affair of honor}, a dispute to be decided by a duel, or the
   duel itself.
{Court of honor}, a court or tribunal to investigate and
   decide questions relating to points of honor; as a court
   of chivalry, or a military court to investigate acts or
   omissions which are unofficerlike or ungentlemanly in
   their nature.
{Debt of honor}, a debt contracted by a verbal promise, or by
   betting or gambling, considered more binding than if
   recoverable by law.
{Honor bright!} An assurance of truth or fidelity. [Colloq.]
{Honor court} (Feudal Law), one held in an honor or seignory.
{Honor point}. (Her.) See {Escutcheon}.
{Honors of war} (Mil.), distinctions granted to a vanquished
   enemy, as of marching out from a camp or town armed, and
   with colors flying.
{Law, or Code}, {of honor}, certain rules by which social
   intercourse is regulated among persons of fashion, and
   which are founded on a regard to reputation. --Paley.
{Maid of honor}, a lady of rank, whose duty it is to attend
   the queen when she appears in public.
{On one's honor}, on the pledge of one's honor; as, the
   members of the House of Lords in Great Britain, are not
   under oath, but give their statements or verdicts on their
   honor.
{Point of honor}, a scruple or nice distinction in matters
   affecting one's honor; as, he raised a point of honor.
{To do the honors}, to bestow honor, as on a guest; to act as
   host or hostess at an entertainment. ``To do the honors
   and to give the word.'' --Pope.
{To do one honor}, to confer distinction upon one.
{To have the honor}, to have the privilege or distinction.
{Word of honor}, an engagement confirmed by a pledge of
   honor.

\Hon"or\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Honored}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Honoring}.] [OE. honouren, onouren, OF. honorer, honourer,
F. honorer, fr. L. honorare, fr. honor, n.]
1. To regard or treat with honor, esteem, or respect; to
   revere; to treat with deference and submission; when used
   of the Supreme Being, to reverence; to adore; to worship.
         Honor thy father and thy mother.      --Ex. xx. 12.
         That all men should honor the Son, even as they
         honor the Father.                     --John v. 23.
         It is a custom More honor'd in the breach than the
         observance.                           --Shak.
2. To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to bestow
   honor upon; to elevate in rank or station; to ennoble; to
   exalt; to glorify; hence, to do something to honor; to
   treat in a complimentary manner or with civility.
         Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king
         delighten to honor.                   --Esther vi.
                                               9.
         The name of Cassius honors this corruption. --Shak.
3. (Com.) To accept and pay when due; as, to honora bill of
   exchange.