Middle English Dictionary Entry
honǒurāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | honǒurāble adj. Also onorable, onerable. Pl. honǒurāble, etc. & honorables. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Worthy of respect or reverence, respectable; of Christ: endowed with spiritual glory; (b) of commandments, royal letters or documents: entitled to respect, to be honored; (c) signifying or rendering distinction or respect; ensuring good repute or honor; (d) of fame or reputation: illustrious, glorious.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.13.4 : Joachym was ful riche..and Jewis camen to gidre to hym, for that he was more honourable of alle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.344 : A ianglere is to god abhomynable; Rede Salomon so wys and honurable.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3017 : We pleigne noght ayein the Pope, For thilke name is honourable.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.4.2 : But dignytees, to whom thei ben comen, make they hym honourable and reverent?
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)210/24 : I..haue ben in many a full gode honourable companye & at many a faire dede of armes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2387 : Þey sette hym honurable to be, Wiþ fourty knyghtes of meygne.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.90r : This chapel was bute of symple werk but hit was honorable of the vertues and miracles of God ther shewed.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)223 : He beheld Olympadas þat honourable lady.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)8.6 : Thou coround him with..honur, for he [Christ] is honurabile till all.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)576 : Nolde Nectanabus no while dwell..till hee comme were, Too looke on Olympias þe onorable queene.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.640 : Se that in the firste table Of heighe goddes hestes honurable How that the seconde heste of hym is this.
- (1418) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.1.14 : I hadde red ȝour honurable letter.
- (1436) RParl.4.500b : It lust unto youre Roial Mageste to graunte youre honurables Lettres of Save Conduyt to vi Persones.
- (1447) Shillingford134 : Your seid suppliantz ben vexed..by colour of the seid preve seall ageinst..þe seid ordenaunce to adresse your honorablez letters under your signet un to your seid Chaunceller.
- (1458-9) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 82.m.7.d : They weren chargied by your Honorable comaundement for to ouerse a noyaunce.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2030 : In place which is honorable If that a man his herte sette, That thanne he for no Slowthe lette To do what longeth to manhede.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.324 : He praied alle his frendes..þei wilde biseke Edward, þat he mot him ȝelde tille him in a forward þat were honorable to kepe wod or beste.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6914 : They..loven setes at the table, The firste and most honourable.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3975 : The Steward..seide, als fer as he can hiere, His name is good and honourable.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.303-4 : Many other folk han bought honourable renoun of this world by the prys of glorious deth.
2.
(a) Splendid, impressive, excellent, fair; ?also, appropriate, befitting a person's rank or station; (b) commendable, virtuous, upright; (c) of exalted rank, position, or lineage.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2856 : Duc Theseus..Caste now wher that the sepulture Of good Arcite may best ymaked be, And eek moost honurable in his degree.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1460 : She preide him..That..He wolde an honourable feste Make..in the Cite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.197 : Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable..Ther stood a throop.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.767 : To the erl..preyde he specially To bryngen hom agayn his children two In honurable estat al openly.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5652 : Pictagoras hymsilf reherses In a book..for the nobilite Of the honourable ditee.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4641 : The goddes is greuyt, þat we are gon fro At honourable Attens, -- auntrus Diana.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)31/19 : Þe cytees and townys more worþi & honorable.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)p.508 : Trouth and luf..hild apostils and haly men as honurabil chathynge [read: clathynge].
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.13.4 : Honorable wedding in alle thingis [WB(2): Wedding is in alle thingis onourable], and bed vnwembid.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.21 : He was hardy, wys, and riche..Sooth of his word, benygne, and honurable.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.435 : Sarpedoun..honourable Was..and ful of heigh largesse.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1126 : Thus can this quene honurable hire gestes calle, As she that can in fredom passen alle.
- c1432-a1500(c1390) Chaucer L.St.(Robinson)22 : O prince, desyre to be honourable, Cherish thy folk and hate extorcioun!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3973 : Ecuba, the onest & onerable qwene, Was..Massily made as a man lyke.
c
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2609 : Elfled, þat honorabil abbas, To whaim cuthbert so special was.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)88.27 : He honorabilest of all and heghe bifore kyngis.
3.
In titles and terms of address for peers, ecclesiastical, civil, or guild officials, etc.
Associated quotations
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55643 : To ȝou, full honurable Maistur & ful Worshipfull bretheron of the Trynite ȝelde Seint Mary..Sheweth vn to you Robert Skille..that he desires to holde of you a tenement.
- (a1450) Paston2.118 : Right honorabull and my right wurshipfull Lord, I recomaund me unto your gode Lordship.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)310 : Honourable maister, I be-seke..if þou me say wald, Quatkyn fygour on fold..at he beris.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)133 : Þis cherch was þe title of þat honorable fader herry, bischop of wynchester, þat deyid now late.
- (1456) Doc.in Nicholl Ironmongers26 : Know ye us, the foresaide Lancastre, to haue geven and graunted unto the honurable Crafte and felasship of the ffraunchised men of Iremongers..a token of armes.
- (1458-9) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 82.m.7.d : To the ful Honorables lord the Mair and Aldermen of the Citee of london.
4.
(a) As noun: an honorable person; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)285 : Youre emperise, the honurable, Is desolat.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6708 : Ector full onestly þat onerable þanket.
b
- (1247) Feet Fines War.in Dugd.Soc.11650 : Walter le Onorable.
- (1256) Pat.R.Hen.III513 : Walter Honurable.
- (1332) Sub.R.War.in Dugd.Soc.625 : John le Honurable.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Chartier Dial.F.&F.(Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)18/34 : The ordre and dyssyplyne of knyghthode walketh at large wythowt ordre ayenst the fyrst ordenaunce of knyghthode and the honorable yn that behalfe.
Note: ?As adj.