- Homage
- Homage Hom"age, n. [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.? on the
ground, and E. groom in bridegroom. 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Respect or reverential regard; deference; especially, respect paid by external action; obeisance. [1913 Webster]
All things in heaven and earth do her [Law] homage. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
I sought no homage from the race that write. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection. --Chaucer.
Syn: Fealty; submission; reverence; honor; respect.
Usage: {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 pre["e]minent usefulness and virtue, and profess our fealty to the principles by which they have been guided. [1913 Webster]
Go, go with homage yon proud victors meet ! Go, lie like dogs beneath your masters' feet ! --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Man, disobeying, Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins Against the high supremacy of heaven. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.