homage Meaning, Definition & Usage

Hom"age noun

Etymology

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.

Definitions

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.

3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection. Chaucer. 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 transitive verb

Etymology

Cf. OF. hommager.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Homaged ; present participle & verbal noun Homaging

Definitions

1. To pay reverence to by external action. R.
2. To cause to pay homage. Obs. Cowley.