Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Homage

Hom′age

,
Noun.
[OF.
homage
,
homenage
, F.
hommage
, LL.
hominaticum
,
homenaticum
, from L.
homo
a man, LL. also, a client, servant, vassal; akin to L.
humus
earth, Gr.[GREEK] on the ground, and E.
groom
in bride
groom
. Cf.
Bridegroom
,
Human
.]
1.
(Feud. Law)
A symbolical acknowledgment made by a feudal tenant to, and in the presence of, his lord, on receiving investiture of fee, or coming to it by succession, that he was his man, or vassal; profession of fealty to a sovereign.
2.
Respect or reverential regard; deference; especially, respect paid by external action; obeisance.
All things in heaven and earth do her [Law]
homage
.
Hooker.
I sought no
homage
from the race that write.
Pope.
Syn. – Fealty; submission; reverence; honor; respect.
–
Homage
,
Fealty
. Homage was originally the act of a feudal tenant by which he declared himself, on his knees, to be the hommage or bondman of the lord; hence the term is used to denote reverential submission or respect. Fealty was originally the fidelity of such a tenant to his lord, and hence the term denotes a faithful and solemn adherence to the obligations we owe to superior power or authority. We pay our homage to men of preëminent usefulness and virtue, and profess our fealty to the principles by which they have been guided.
Go, go with
homage
yon proud victors meet !
Go, lie like dogs beneath your masters’ feet !
Dryden.
Man, disobeying,
Disloyal, breaks his
fealty
, and sins
Against the high supremacy of heaven.
Milton.

Hom′age

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Homaged
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Homaging
.]
[Cf. OF.
hommager
.]
1.
To pay reverence to by external action.
[R.]
2.
To cause to pay homage.
[Obs.]
Cowley.

Webster 1828 Edition

Homage

HOM'AGE

,
Noun.
[L. homo, man.]
1.
In feudal law, the submission, loyalty and service which a tenant promised to his lord or superior,when first admitted to the land which he held of him in fee; or rather the act of the tenant in making this submission, on being invested with the fee. The ceremony of doing homage was thus performed. The tenant, being ungirt and uncovered, kneeled and held up both his hands between those of the lord, who sat before him, and there professed that 'he did become his man, from that day forth, of life and limb and earthly honor,' and then received a kiss from his lord.
2.
Obeisance; respect paid by external action.
Go, go, with homage yon proud victors meet.
3.
Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection.

HOM'AGE

,
Verb.
T.
To pay respect to by external action; to give reverence to; to profess fealty.

Similar Results