Middle English Dictionary Entry
honǒur n.
Entry Info
Forms | honǒur n. Also onour, h)onor, -ur, honnour, -ur, -eur, honowur. |
Etymology | OF h)onor, h)onur, onneur. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. anour.
1.
(a) The action of honoring or paying respect to someone; an act, a gesture, or a ceremony displaying reverence or esteem; worship; haven (holden) in ~, haven with ~, to show honor or respect to (sb. or sth.); (b) beren (don) ~, beren (don, yelden, yeven) ~ to, yeven ~ unto, to honor (sb. or sth.); don ~, perform (one's) devotions, worship; (c) sweren ~, to swear allegiance to (sb.); taken ~, receive homage or allegiance; (d) in ~, revered, worshipped; for (in, til, to) ~ of, in honor of (sb. or sth.), out of respect for (sb. or sth.); -- also to (for)..~ with genitive.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)6084 : Hii..leide hine mid honure heȝe in þan toure.
- c1300 SLeg.And.(Hrl 2277)101 : Wiþ gret honor hi hit [þe holi bodi] neme adoun and to buringe bere.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)235 : He tok hem [the saplings] op with gret honour.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9898 : Mid gret onour & prute, At founte ebraud he was ibured.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2309 : Tristrem wiþ gret honour Bicom þe kinges kniȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)335 : Amiloun..spoused a leuedy briȝt in bour & brouȝt hir hom wiþ gret honour & miche solempnete.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.2.29 : Resceyue ȝe him with al ioye in the Lord, and haue ȝe such maner men with honour [WB(2): al onour].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.331 : Thy tonge sholdestow restreyne At alle tymes but whan thow doost thy peyne To speke of god in honour and preyere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3001 : Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise, So that Achilles underfongeth As to a yong ladi belongeth Honour, service, and reverence.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.84 : At Saynt Steuen's kirke þei laid him with honoure.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4667 : He [Darius] was beriȝed wiþ grete honoure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6913 : Þe Grekis..toke þe cors and buried it anoon With gret honour and solempnite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6943 : Sathan..hath y-brouȝt to conclusioun [read: confusioun]..Siþen tyme þat aldirfirst be-gan Þe false honour of ydolatrie.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)7/21 : All þai come with grete honowre Sir Edward to saue and socoure.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)128/40 : Men suld hald þat haly tre In honore.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1482 : On her knees þei hem sette; Wiþ mochel honoure þei him grette.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)7a : If ony fruyt come of þis concordaunce, to god be onour & doynge of þankyngis now & euere.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)924 : Glorye and honour, Virgil Mantoan, Be to thy name!
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1850 : Of Almayne þe Emperour, With wyrchip and honour He gaff hir at þe kyrk-dure.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1898 : Kepe all þe oures of þe day With als grete honoure os þai may.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6957 : Gude men him in honour had.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Win.(GoughETop 4)180/5 : He..abode a certeyn day in þe whyche scho schuld..wyth honor and worschyp be broȝt into þe abbay of Schrosbre.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)671 : The fader hym thonked of the honour that he hym profered.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1025 : Do ich-il ȝou grete honour For þat maidens loue Blauncheflour.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4490 : Y no wil depart him fro For non honour men may me do.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)21/9 : Þench hou ueleziþe þou hest y-by onboȝsam to þine uader and to þine moder and to þan to huam þou ssoldest bouȝe and bere honur.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 12.23 : He hadde not don honour [WB(2): Ȝouun onour; L dedisset honorem] to God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.3.7 : Also men togydere dwellinge, up science, or kunnynge, ȝeuynge honour [WB(2): onoure] to the wommans vessel, or body.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1047 : This maketh Emelye haue remembraunce To doon honour to May.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2434 : He yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1123 : To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.299 : And but thow do to my norice honour, And to my chambrere with inne my bour, And to my fadres folk and his allyes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23586 : Heuen and erth als creature Sal ber þam [the righteous] wirscip and honur.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)1131 : He ȝaue vs..Ihesus; Þan we onely hym þanke and do hym onoure.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)424 : Art þou þe quene of heuenez blwe, Þat al þys worlde schal do honour?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3472 : Paris..to þe temple, he takeþ þe riȝt waye..And dide his honour & his sacrifyse Ful humblely to þe Grekis liche.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)542 : Such as to hym dyden fals honour Be Rytys vsed in the olde dawes Aftere custome of paganysme lawes.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)729 : Grete honore þou did to me.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2441 : Men..diden hym honour, For of Athenes duk and lord was he.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)531 : Thow doost thy selfe lytil honour, For to suffyre thy sone by slawe.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)149 : Hire [the birds'] bekes gonnen meete, Yeldyng honour and humble obeysaunces To love.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4360 : Other folke..Did honour to dedemen.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)6.1 : Laude and high honour, O blisfull quene, be yeve vnto the.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)487 : Trewenesse we þe sworen, ase riȝt was, and eorþelich honour al-so.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)249 : In euery stede he toke honoure, As a noble kynge and conqueroure.
d
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)419/40 : Þat ech man..In þe honour of alle haluwene made þane day feste.
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)279 : If eni man in honour of me eni chapel doþ rere..louerd bidde ic þe, If hi biddeþ þing þt is to bidde, grante hem.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11115 : Sir roger ne sir Ion Vor honour of holichurche nolde wiþinne gon.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9789 : Ȝut þulke point at canterbury þe monekes lateþ wite Vor honour of þe holi man [St. Thomas] þat þerwiþ was ismite.
- a1350(?c1280) SLeg.Concep.Virg.(Ashm 43)74/180 : Þer were viftene degres bifore þe heie auter In þe honur [vr. honuraunce] of þe viftene saumes.
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.(Eg 1993)93/647 : Þe schepeherdes þo in þe felde woke, Vor onour of þe sonne.
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)479 : If ȝe dyen..stondyng [in] clene entente to Goddus honoure..God wil accept ȝowe for his trew martiris and breþerin of Cristis passione.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1369 : For his honour my self for to arraye A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye An hundred frankes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1854 : Wher fore I synge..In honour of that blisful mayden free.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1449 : Take hym a wyf..By cause of leueful procreacioun Of children to thonour of god aboue.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.113 : My lige lord..sendeth yow in honour of your feste By me..This steede of bras.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1331 : Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow Moore than to saue myn hertes lyf.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1532 : Þis ymage he made here Jn þe honoure of Jubiter.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3607 : I haue hooly in his [King Henry's] honour Executed þe fyn of my labour.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.152 : Aldirmost in honour..Thei hadde a relik, heet Palladion.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.163 : Bysechyng hym..that he Wolde, in honour of trouthe and gentilesse..eke menen wel to me.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)16/8 : Eftir þe þridde respun þe vers wid þe 'gloria patri', standande, alle for þe onur of the haly trinite.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.39/27 : We shall bere thedir, in the honoure of seynt Barthilmewe, a Shippe of syluer.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)162/33 : An hydows fyer & greuows ful lekely to a brent þe parysch cherch dedicate in þe honowr of Seynt Margarete.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1867 : In lentyn tyme þen sal þai..say þer seruyse And orisons til godes honoure.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)635 : Thou writest, And ever mo of love enditest, In honour of hym and in preysynges.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4367 : Mercury, a mighty god, is most in honour.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)194/9 : Euery day sey..a crede in the honor off the trinyte.
- (1456) Doc.in Nicholl Ironmongers26 : To [bear] the said armes, in all maner seruices of our souerayne lorde the Kyng, and in baners to the honour and [worship] of God.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)253 : For þe honour of myn honeste of heghest enprise, Þai coronyd me þe kidde kynge of kene justises.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)228/9 : Al þe angels and þe seyntys yn Heuen..madyn all þe myrthe and melody þat þay cowþe, al yn honowur and worschyp of hur [Mary].
2.
(a) Fame, good repute; worldly glory, distinction; vein ~; worldes ~; lesen (losen) ~, to lose (one's) honor, be disgraced; (b) the glory of God or Christ; also, spiritual glory; (c) feminine repute, reputation for purity.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)83 : Hie giuen here elmesse noht for godes luue ac for neheboreden..oðer for onur to hauen.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)272 : Pharaon..was Aumperour Of egypte with muche honour.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8176 : Deie we raþer wiþ onur.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)151 : Many sinful men..þinkeþ it were muche for hem To haue gret worldes honour As londes, rentes, halle, and bour.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)8.6 : Þou corouned hym wyþ glorie and honur.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3401 : God to thy fader sente Glorie and honour, regne, tresor, rente.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 4.44 : A prophete in his owne cuntree hath not honour [WB(2): onour; L honorem], or worschip.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.917 : Noght greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3047 : A man hath moost honour To dyen in his excellence and flour Whan he is siker of his goode name.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2301 : I wol doon to yow so muche that ye shul haue honour in this cause.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.221 : The vein honour was noght desired, Which hath the proude herte fyred.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1865 : Thou wolt..Of armes thilke honour forsake And duelle at hom for loves sake.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2134 : If a king his tresor lasseth Withoute honour and thonkles passeth, Whan he himself wol so beguile, I not who schal compleigne his while.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)473 : I shall in Grece werre..And wynne þe maistry with muche honoure And com agayn as a conqueroure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.164 : [Jason] was beloued so of old and ȝonge, That thoruȝ þe londe is þe honour spronge.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27562 : Pride..riueliest in thinges thre, For werldes hap, als clath or fode, Hows, or rent..Erthly honowre, or priorte, [etc.].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.2.136 : Therby wenen they to han suffysaunce, honour [L reuerentiam], power, renoun.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.380 : He ne wolde for Al the worldes honour Abyden In Non place swich A schowr.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)380/132 : He [Jesus] is a kyng..mekill of myght..And worthy to wynne honnoure.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1793 : These ben they that wolde honour Have, and do noskynnes labour.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)50/18 : I have loste the honoure on horsebacke.
- (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.4935 : They shal mowe with goddis grace to atteigne unto honoure and worship.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)738 : Ȝyf that charlys come, and bryng hem socour And passe mautryble, we lese oure honour.
- a1500 For the begynnyng (Hrl 3810)262/28 : He þat in ȝouþe no vertu usit, In Age Alle honure hym refusit.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)8/201 : Cristning may be mad Þat bringeþ ous so merie To honoure.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1767 : Mordre wol out..it wol nat faille, And namely ther as thonour of god shal sprede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27073 : He þat was bare of al succur, Crist had nu cledd in his honur.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8527 : Þe fyft blys þat sall falle..To þe saules, þat with þe bodyse salle ga Tylle hevenryke, es honoure and worschepe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)51/259 : Evyr wurcheppyd he [God] be on watyr and londe; his grett honowre may nevyr more fade.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)19.8 : We..sall seke the honur of god.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)78/431 : Gyf louyng to goddys mageste..to hym be honowre and vertew.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1654-5 : Nat that I may encressen hir [Mary's] honour, For she hir self is honour.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.681 : Thogh that his ladi make him chiere, So as sche mai in good manere Hir honour and hir name save.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.530 : Myn herte..Graunted hym loue vpon this condicioun That euere mo myn honour and renoun Were saued, bothe pryuee and apert.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.762 : Though that I myn herte sette at reste Upon this knyght..And kepe alwey myn honour and my name, By alle right, it may do me no shame.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)461 : But I bere me in hire servyse..hyre honour for to save, Take she my lif.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)267 : I..was so besy yow to delyte --Myn honor save-- meke, kynde, and fre; Therefor ye put on me this wite.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)369 : Iffe I purpose your honour to defface..gode and fortune me schende.
3.
(a) A state or condition inspiring respect; a respectable or dignified manner; to ~, to (one's) credit; (b) splendour, beauty, comeliness; excellence; (c) happiness, good fortune; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.582 : Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten..Worthy to been stywardes of rente and londe Of any lord that is in Engelond, To make hym lyue by his proper good In honour detteles.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.160 : I pray to god in honour hir sustene, And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.604 : Stilbon..Was sent to Corynthe in ful gret honour Fro Lacedomye to make hire alliaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.360 : Vndigne and vnworthy I am to thilke honour that ye me bede.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7519 : J rede ȝou..þat ȝe lene to his socoure Swich folk þat ben to ȝoure honoure.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7585 : Fayn Ich wolde hir ysene, Her castels and ek her toures, Ȝif hij weren to myn honoures.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)852 : In compayny gret our luf con þryf, In honour more and neuer þe lesse.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1727 : Trouth..Is Chief Pyler that may a kyng sustene, In Ioye and honour for to lede his lyff.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.29.34 : Go thou out fro the face of the onour [L a facie honoris] of my frendis.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1008 : In which [the town of Carthage] she [Dido] regneth in so gret honour.
b
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)736 : In þulke derworþe feire tour Þer stont a Trone wiþ muche honour.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1315 : Amydde þe lond he say a spryng Of a welle of honoure.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)56 : This dayesye, of alle floures flour, Fulfyld of vertu and of alle honour..fayr and fresh of hewe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)33.15 : A man..sauwh he..Whiche semed A man of gret honour [F un home de moult grant biautet].
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1416 : Thus fond y syttynge this goddesse In nobley, honour, and rychesse.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)78 : Wele feyre was that damycell..Of all maydenys sche bare þe flowre; That tyme was none of hur honowre.
c
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)385 : Heil, summe of honour [L Aue salutarium summa], Of heleful ioyes, i calle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.931 : It is an honour to euerich that is heer That ye mowe haue a suffisant pardoner Tassoille yow.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.271 : Wrecche of wrecches, out of honour falle Into miserie.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1442 : But ye come at day set into Troye, Ne shal I nevere have hele, honour, ne joye.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)2 : This..worldes transmutacioun, As wele or wo, now povre and now honour..Governed is by Fortunes errour.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)482 : The kynge was sett in hys parlore Wyth myrth, solas, and onor.
4.
Nobleness of character or manners; graciousness, courtesy; honorableness, virtue, moral or spiritual uprightness; bi ~, ?in accordance with honorableness.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)480/1 : Seint ypolyt, þe Martyr knyht, was of gret honour.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)260 : He moste with honour bi-leue þulke baillie And ech oþur seruise of court.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2789 : That is to seyn trouthe, honour, knyghthede, Wisdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.46 : A knyght ther was..he loued chiualrye, Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.124 : He was ther with fulfild of gentillesse, Of honour, and of parfit worthynesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.879 : Sche..al honour supposeth, The false Prestes thanne opposeth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.74 : A fair persone and strong and yong of age And ful of honour and of curteisye.
- a1400(?c1300) Amis (Eg 2862)6 : Herkeniþ to me..What sum-tyme fel..[of] two barons of grete bounte And men of grete honoure [vr. honere].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1963 : Of such a sellyly [read: selly] soiorne as I haf hade here, Your honour at þis hyȝe fest, þe hyȝe kyng yow ȝelde!
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1444 : He preyeth..Of kyngly honour for ȝour owne glorie, To send hir hom.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.161 : Troilus..In whom that alle vertu list habounde, As alle trouth and alle gentilesse, Wisdom, honour, fredom, and worthinesse.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2 : In Rome was an emperour, A man of swyth mikil honur.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)641 : Yeve me counseile in what manere I may hem ansuere moste auenauntly by honour and by reson.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)912 : Pray þat corteys and hende Þat sche wold be my frend..For hyr mychel honowre.
5.
(a) Position or rank, station in life; office; (b) exalted position or status, high station or rank; with reference to things: honorable use.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)270 : In his warde he let do his eldeste sone..Þat he were is wardein and al is ordeinour, Aftur is wille to wissi him to þe kingus honur.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1502 : A ful greet fool is any conseillour That serueth any lord of heigh honour That dar presume..it That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)487 : Þus he [Lucifer] leses his gret honur [Göt: honour].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24713 : Crist..Chamburlain o grett honure..made þe [John] of his moder bure.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)35 : What urþly haþel þat hyȝ honor haldez Wolde lyke if a ladde com lyþerly attyred, When he were sette solempnely in a sete ryche.
- (1447) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23291 : Ye shall trewly sette and retourne resonable and due issues of theym that ben within your baillifwik after their estate and their honoure.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1898 : Heo beden him holden op his honour stifliche hore help to beo.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.9.21 : Wher a pottere of cley hath not power of the same gobet for to make sothli o vessel in to honour [L in honorem], anothir..in to dispyt or lowȝ office?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.5.4 : Neither ony man takith to him honour, no but he that is clepid of God, as Aaron.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.190 : Honour is eek cleped greet lorschipe..Honour is eek cleped greet dignytee and heighnesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.725 : Cesar Julius..hield..Of al this world the Monarchie, And was the ferste of that honour Which tok the name of Emperour.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3871 : Þe elder knyȝt, for honoure, Ȝede fyrst and kyst hys creature.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1063 : Men me clepeþ quene afeld; Ne may Ich neuer of honour ȝelp.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.5.27 : I merveile me gretly..why..schrewes ravysschen medes of vertu (and ben in honours and in grete estatz).
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2474 : He seyde unto his contre moste he sayle, For there he wolde hire weddynge aparayle, As fel to hire honour.
- a1450(1413) Glade in god call (Dgb 102)141 : For comons mayntene lordis honour, Holy chirche, and religyoun.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)369/405 : I may not tend to the, sere, at this hour For ocupacyon of this body of honour.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)299 : Lordus off honor opon þe heþene heldus.
6.
(a) The domain of a feudal lord or king, a seigniory; (b) feudal lordship or rule; (c) to thin ~, ?at your service.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)388/132 : He haþ afelled min honour..He haþ taken mi castels.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)131 : His lordis honour [Cai: All his lordes londe] he held worþschipliche, And defended it wele & hardiliche.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.113 : Bristow kastelle & toun..& slede with alle þe honour, & oþer sex ilkon..Steuen wan þam ilk a stik.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1455 : Þe keyes hij token in his honde Of her cites, of her honoure [LinI: honours], And maden hym her liege seignoure.
- (1417) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)67 : The whech Castel is an honneur, and all the viscountie and Lordshippes of Auge halden ther-of.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)7 : Of Rome and of al þe honowre Was he lord and emperowre.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3138 : If þou overcum þam in þis stoure, Þan sal þou have al þis honoure And my doghter in mariage.
- (1433) RParl.4.442a : Touchant the Castell, Honour, and Lordship of Arundell, and other diverses Castellx, Lordshippes, and Manoirs, to your saide Warde entailled.
- (1439) RParl.5.7a : Alle the Profites, Issues, Revenues, Customes, and Commoditees comyng..of alle the Castellis, Honnures, Maners, Lordschippes, Landis, Tenementis..be ordeined, aplied, and emploied to the dispensis of his saide Houshold.
- (a1450) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)26.1280 : All his Auncestres..haue ben seised of þe Castell, honour, and lordshipp of Arundell.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)849 : For vttirlich to have a child was al hir delite, Þat myȝte enyoy hir heritage & weld hir honoure.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.50/10 : And so in þe same manere as þe tenauntes and receyuauntes the which been or shall be within the honowr of Seynte Walerye Doone.
- (c1465) Cart.Tropenell in BGAS 23200 : [All who had possessed the manor]..have hold the said manor of Estchaldefeld of the erle of Salysbery, and he of the honour of Trobrygge by an hole knyght fee.
- (1472) Will York in Sur.Soc.45204 : As for my lyvelod, that is to say in the honour of Pomfrete, the Mowrehouse with the appurtenaunce..I will that my wife have rewle..of all thies parcells.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.237 : To Henry, his third soonne..Therldome [he] gaue then of Gloucester sea, With [the] honour of slede [vr. Shelde] for euer in certente.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1430 : He aryued at Cesile..it aliþed sone..wan of þat þe honoure.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)312 : Swetyng, what so betyde, I am to þyn honoure.
7.
(a) A gift, reward; a mark of distinction; (b) an achievement, a distinction; (c) referring to persons, actions, speech: a source of glory, a cause of honor or good reputation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4486 : Ich in þis ȝere wille ȝiue þe Þe richest honour þat in mi lond be.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2601 : Thow hast ydronke so muchel hony of swete temporel richesses and delices and honours of this world that thow..hast forgetan Iesu Crist.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.617 : Ye that been so glorious in honours Shal nat allye yow with hasardours.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6415 : As moche ioye and onours shal come to gode executours.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1389 : He made many kniȝth..and ȝaf vche lordyng gret honoure.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4695 : Þoo þe traitours herden þis, Hij wenden keueren honour, jwis.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1144 : Honours nuryshes..Vayn glory, vauntyng, and vanite.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8529 : Þai salle have þare sere honours And be corouned.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)19.8 com. : The lufers of this warld..has thaire delite in proude honurs and vayn.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)176 : He yede forthe to bataile and had þe victorye; and after took boþe honours & dolours.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810)4/36 : Syker was euery gode harpure Of hym to haue moche honour.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.4.70 : Yif that a man..had manye maner dignytees of consules, and weere comen peraventure among straunge nacions, scholde thilke honour maken hym worschipful and redouted of straunge folk?
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9340 : Þat ȝoure dede mowe be couþ bi norþe & bi souþe, Þat it be onour to ȝou & to ȝoure eirs al so.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)473 : It hadde be more honour to þe For soþe to habbe i-smite me.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1129 : It were to thee..no greet honour For to be fals..To me that am thy cosyn and thy brother.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1358 : A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde But al honour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1809 : He..herieth Crist..And eek his moder, honour of mankynde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.20 : Hector..was berer-vp of Troye, Her ful trust, her honour, and her Ioye.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.705 : To graunte hym love..for his worthynesse, It were honour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.28 : Yit lyveth in good poynt thilke precyous honour of mankynde..thi wyves fader.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1446 : If..thow this famous tresor myghtest wynne And bryngen it my regioun withinne, It were to me gret plesaunce and honour.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)288 : Alas, your honour and your emperise, Negh ded for drede, ne can her not chevise.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)580 : He preide god yeve hem goode a-uenture and grace to do so that it myght be savacion to their soules..and honour to theire bodyes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)647 : Lordinges..wiþ muchel honur ȝe habbeþ iherd of Blauncheflur.
Note: New sense; different focus