Part 886

Honorable is a title of quality, conferred by English usage upon the younger children of earls and all the children of viscounts and barons. The maids of honor, lords of session, and the supreme judges of England and Ireland are entitled to the prefix. In American usage, it is a title of courtesy merely, bestowed upon those who hold, or have held, any of the higher public offices, esp. governors, judges, members of Congress or of the Senate, mayors.

Right honorable. See under Right.

Hon"or*a*ble*ness, n. 1. The state of being honorable; eminence; distinction.

2. Conformity to the principles of honor, probity, or moral rectitude; fairness; uprightness; reputableness.

Hon"or*a*bly (?), adv. 1. In an honorable manner; in a manner showing, or consistent with, honor.

The reverend abbot . . . honorably received him.

Shak.

Why did I not more honorably starve?

Dryden.

2. Decently; becomingly. [Obs.] "Do this message honorably." Shak.

Syn. -- Magnanimously; generously; nobly; worthily; justly; equitably; fairly; reputably.

{ ||Hon`o*ra"ri*um (?), Hon"or*a*ry (?), } n. [L. honorarium (sc. donum), fr. honorarius. See Honorary, a.] 1. A fee offered to professional men for their services; as, an honorarium of one thousand dollars. S. Longfellow.

2. (Law) An honorary payment, usually in recognition of services for which it is not usual or not lawful to assign a fixed business price. Heumann.

Hon"or*a*ry, a. [L. honorarius, fr. honor honor: cf. F. honoraire.] 1. Done as a sign or evidence of honor; as, honorary services. Macaulay.

2. Conferring honor, or intended merely to confer honor without emolument; as, an honorary degree. "Honorary arches." Addison.

3. Holding a title or place without rendering service or receiving reward; as, an honorary member of a society.

Hon"or*er (?), n. One who honors.

Hon`or*if"ic (?), a. [See Honor, -fy, and -ic.] Conferring honor; tending to honor. London Spectator.

Hon"or*less (?), a. Destitute of honor; not honored. Bp. Warburton.

Hont (hnt), n. & v. See under Hunt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hoo (?), interj. 1. See Ho. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Hurrah! -- an exclamation of triumphant joy. Shak.

-hood (?). [OE. hod, had, hed, hede, etc., person, rank, order, condition, AS. hd; akin to OS. hd, OHG. heit, G. -heit, D. -heid, Goth. haidus manner; cf. Skr. ktu brightness, cit to appear, be noticeable, notice. √217. Cf. -head.] A termination denoting state, condition, quality, character, totality, as in manhood, childhood, knighthood, brotherhood. Sometimes it is written, chiefly in obsolete words, in the form -head.

Hood (?), n. [OE. hood, hod, AS. hd; akin to D. hoed hat, G. hut, OHG. huot, also to E. hat, and prob. to E. heed. √13.] 1. State; condition. [Obs.]

How could thou ween, through that disguised hood To hide thy state from being understood?

Spenser.

2. A covering or garment for the head or the head and shoulders, often attached to the body garment; especially: (a) A soft covering for the head, worn by women, which leaves only the face exposed. (b) A part of a monk's outer garment, with which he covers his head; a cowl. "All hoods make not monks." Shak. (c) A like appendage to a cloak or loose overcoat, that may be drawn up over the head at pleasure. (d) An ornamental fold at the back of an academic gown or ecclesiastical vestment; as, a master's hood. (e) A covering for a horse's head. (f) (Falconry) A covering for a hawk's head and eyes. See Illust. of Falcon.

3. Anything resembling a hood in form or use; as: (a) The top or head of a carriage. (b) A chimney top, often contrived to secure a constant draught by turning with the wind. (c) A projecting cover above a hearth, forming the upper part of the fireplace, and confining the smoke to the flue. (d) The top of a pump. (e) (Ord.) A covering for a mortar. (f) (Bot.) The hood-shaped upper petal of some flowers, as of monkshood; -- called also helmet. Gray. (g) (Naut.) A covering or porch for a companion hatch.