honorable

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English honourable, from Old French honorable, honurable, from Latin honōrābilis, from honōrō (I honour); cognate with Italian onorabile, Spanish honorable. By surface analysis, honor +‎ -able. In this sense, largely displaced Old English ārfæst.

Pronunciation

Adjective

honorable (comparative more honorable, superlative most honorable) (American spelling)

  1. Behaving in a manner that shows honor; decent, having integrity.
  2. Worthy of respect; respectable.
    Synonyms: noble, venerable
    Antonyms: contemptible, despicable, mean
    • 1887, The Popular Science Monthly, volume 31, page 629:
      In confinement ladies are attended, not by the ordinary doctors, but by women especially devoted to the calling, who regard their profession as honorable and humanitary.
  3. Complying with cultural rules regarding honor; not provoking shame or disgrace.
    That culture considered it no disgrace to be defeated in honorable combat.
    • 1943, Korean Research Bulletin, volumes 1-2, page 20:
      Luxury was abolished. People lived in honorable marriage. All the women were chaste, faithful, and far from wantoners.
  4. (politics) A courtesy title, given in Britain and the Commonwealth to a cabinet minister, minister of state, or senator, and in the United States to the president, vice president, congresspeople, state governors and legislators, and mayors.
    Synonyms: (abbreviation) Hon'ble, (abbreviation) Hon.
    • 1872, Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, The Unkind Word, and Other Stories, page 145:
      Uncheered by friends, unhissed by foes, the honorable member blandly continued his speech []

Usage notes

  • Historically used in the United States (early 1900s) in mockery of Japanese and Chinese people (or honorable Japs).

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

honorable (plural honorables)

  1. A politician or other person who bears the title of "honorable".
    • 1959, American Journal of Psychotherapy, volume 13, page 111:
      These included a reception for the Congress participants, given by the city of Barcelona in a 14th century palace, with guards making room for the mayor and other honorables, []

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin honōrābilis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

honorable m or f (masculine and feminine plural honorables)

  1. honorable

Derived terms

Further reading

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French , borrowed from Latin honōrābilis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

honorable (plural honorables)

  1. honorable

Derived terms

Further reading

Galician

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin honōrābilis.

Adjective

honorable m or f (plural honorables)

  1. honorable

Further reading

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin honōrābilis. Equivalent to honor +‎ -able.

Pronunciation

Adjective

honorable m or f (masculine and feminine plural honorables)

  1. honorable
    Synonyms: honrado, honesto

Derived terms

Further reading