Kevin
September 26, 2021
Common Questions
Do you know the definition of homage? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word homage, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and Collins English Dictionary, the word homage is a noun that refers to a great respect or deference shown to a person of authority or admiration, often a public show of respect or honour. Archaically, this was used to refer to a feudal ceremony by which a feudal tenant acknowledges himself the vassal of allegiance to a feudal lord, or the act or payment done or made to meet these obligations. Homage is two syllables – hom-age, and the pronunciation of homage is ˈhɒmɪdʒ.
Different languages around the world use words that mean homage. In looking at this list of translations of homage from Word Sense, you may notice that a lot of these look and sound similar to the word homage. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin.
According to Etymonline, the word homage (oʊˈmɒːʒ) has been used since the c13 Middle English homage and comes from the Old French omage and Old French homage. This is the Modern French hommage, from the Latin homme man and Medieval Latin homme/Medieval Latin hominaticum meaning a vassal. This comes from the Latin homo/Latin homō and genitive hominis or homin, from the Latin omne. These Indo-European roots are also where we get the word honor. This word has been used to refer to the fealty and act of respect in feudalism and feudal society for a long time.
The word homage can be used in many different sentences in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or quizzes to test your knowledge of the definitions of many different words. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today. You never know, it might become one of your new favorites. Below are a couple of examples of an homage to get you started.
The students paid homage to their great teacher by painting an artistic work in a flattering style.
The sculpture artist paid homage to Philip of Normandy in his latest work.
The serf paid homage as the vassal of his lord, presenting him with a festschrift. He took consideration of the worth of his duty to heart.
There are a number of different words that a person can choose to use in place of the word homage (ɪˈnɪgmə). These equivalent words are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning or definition as another given word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to easily expand your English language vocabulary and help you avoid repeating yourself when writing or speaking. The below list of synonyms for the word homage is provided by Power Thesaurus.
There are also plenty of different words that have the opposite meaning of the word homage. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another great, quick and easy way to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
Overall, the word homage means a symbolical acknowledgment, formal public acknowledgment or an external action or authority, or a formal oath of a vassal or service of a vassal under feudal law. This formal acknowledgment comes from the French spelling and French word.
