honorable

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Worthy of respect; respectable.

   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.

2. 2
   adj

   Complying with cultural rules regarding honor; not provoking shame or disgrace.

   That culture considered it no disgrace to be defeated in honorable combat.

3. 3
   adj

   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.

   Uncheered by friends, unhissed by foes, the honorable member blandly continued his speech […]

4. 4
   noun

   A politician or other person who bears the title of "honorable".

   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, […]

5. 5
   adj

   not disposed to cheat or defraud

6. 6
   adj

   worthy of being honored

7. 7
   adj

   deserving of esteem and respect

8. 8
   adj

   adhering to ethical and moral principles

Etymology

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