Etymology Map
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Honor

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means high respect or esteem; adherence to what is right

Where does the word "honor" come from? It comes from Latin honor, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
honor
Latin · classical
"esteem; office"
'esteem, public office'; a Roman politician climbed the cursus honorum, the fixed ladder of offices from quaestor to consul
2
Stage 2 of 3
honur
Old French · 1100s
"honour, glory"
in the Song of Roland (c. 1100), Roland refuses to blow his horn for help because it would shame his honur
3
Stage 3 of 3
honour
English · 1200s
"high respect; integrity"
the American spelling 'honor' was fixed by Noah Webster's dictionary of 1828, which dropped the French-style -our
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Read the full story

Honor’s story begins in Latin: honor meant “esteem; office.” 'esteem, public office'; a Roman politician climbed the cursus honorum, the fixed ladder of offices from quaestor to consul. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as honur. In the Song of Roland (c. 1100), Roland refuses to blow his horn for help because it would shame his honur. It reached English by 1200s as honour. The American spelling 'honor' was fixed by Noah Webster's dictionary of 1828, which dropped the French-style -our. Today, honor means high respect or esteem; adherence to what is right.