debt of honour noun

A debt not recognized by law, but binding in honour (esp a gambling or betting debt)

debt of nature noun

Death

bad debt

A debt of which there is no prospect of payment

floating debt

Miscellaneous public debt, like exchequer and treasury bills, as opposed to funded debt, that which has been converted into perpetual annuities like consols in Britain

in someone's debt

Under an obligation (not necessarily pecuniary) to someone

national debt see under nation¹

honour or US honor /onˈər/

noun

1. The esteem due or paid to a worthy person, body, etc
2. Respect
3. High estimation
4. Veneration
5. That which rightfully attracts esteem
6. That which confers distinction or does credit
7. Integrity
8. A fine and scrupulous sense of what is right
9. Chastity
10. Virginity
11. Distinction
12. Exalted rank
13. Any mark of esteem
14. Privilege
15. A title or decoration
16. A title of respect in addressing or referring to judges, etc
17. A prize or distinction
18. (in pl) privileges of rank or birth
19. An ornament or decoration (poetic)
20. (in pl) civilities, respects paid
21. (in pl; in universities, etc) a higher grade of distinction for meritorious, advanced or specialized work
22. The right to play first from the tee (golf)
23. Any one of four best trumps in whist
24. (in bridge) an ace, king, queen, jack or ten in trumps, or an ace in a no-trump hand
25. (in pl) a score for holding these
26. A group of manors held by one lord

transitive verb

1. To hold in high esteem
2. To respect
3. To adorn (obsolete)
4. To exalt
5. To do honour to
6. To confer honour(s) upon
7. To grace (eg with one's presence)
8. To accept and pay when due
9. To fulfil (a promise, agreement, etc)

honˈourable adjective

1. Worthy of honour
2. Illustrious
3. Governed by principles of honour, good, honest, etc
4. Conferring honour
5. Befitting people of exalted rank
6. (with cap; written Hon.) prefixed to the names of various people as a courtesy title

honˈourableness noun

1. Eminence
2. Conformity to the principles of honour
3. Fairness

honˈourably adverb

honˈoured adjective

honoureeˈ noun

A person who is honoured

honˈourer noun

honˈourless adjective

honˈour-boundˈ same as in honour bound below.

honˈor-guard noun (US)

A guard of honour

honour killing noun

The killing by a member of a family of another family member whose actions are seen as bringing dishonour on the family as a whole

honˈour-point noun (heraldry)

The point just above the fesse-point

honours list noun

A list of people who have received or are to receive a knighthood, order, etc from the monarch for eg service to their community or country

honˈours-man noun (old)

One who has taken a university degree with honours

honours of war plural noun

The privileges granted to a surrendering force of marching out with their arms, flags, etc

honour system noun

A system under which it is assumed that people will be honest, as in an unsupervised shop or examination

affair of honour

A duel

birthday honours

Honours granted to mark the monarch's birthday

Companions of Honour

An order instituted in 1917 for those who have rendered conspicuous service of national importance

Court of Honour

A court regulating affairs of honour

debt of honour see under debt

do the honours (informal)

To perform a task, esp the duties of a host

guard of honour

A body of soldiers serving as a ceremonial escort

guest of honour

The most important or distinguished guest (at a party, etc)

honour bright (old school sl)

An oath or appeal to honour

honours easy see under ease

in honour bound (or adjective honˈour-boundˈ)

Obliged by duty, conscience, etc (to)

in honour of

1. Out of respect for
2. Celebrating

last honours

Funeral rites

laws of honour

The conventional rules of honourable conduct, esp in the conduct of duels

maid of honour

1. A lady in the service of a queen or princess
2. A small almond-flavoured cake, or a kind of cheesecake
3. A bridesmaid (N American)

matron of honour

1. A married woman in the service of a queen or princess
2. A married woman performing the duties of a bridesmaid, esp the chief bridesmaid

military honours

Ceremonial tokens of respect paid by troops to royalty, or at the burial of an officer, etc

person of honour (obsolete)

A titled person

point of honour

1. Any scruple caused by a sense of duty, honour, self-respect, etc
2. The obligation to demand and to receive satisfaction for an insult, esp by duelling

upon my honour

An appeal to one's honour in support of a statement

word of honour

A promise that cannot be broken without disgrace