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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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