Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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. 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. 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\, v. 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.