homage

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.&unr_; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Respect or reverential regard; deference; especially, respect paid by external action; obeisance. [ 1913 Webster ]

All things in heaven and earth do her [ Law ] homage. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

I sought no homage from the race that write. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection. Chaucer.

Syn. -- Fealty; submission; reverence; honor; respect. -- 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 preëminent usefulness and virtue, and profess our fealty to the principles by which they have been guided. [ 1913 Webster ]

Go, go with homage yon proud victors meet !
Go, lie like dogs beneath your masters' feet ! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man, disobeying,
Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins
Against the high supremacy of heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Homaged p. pr. & vb. n. Homaging. ] [ Cf. OF. hommager. ] 1. To pay reverence to by external action. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to pay homage. [ Obs. ] Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. hommageable. ] Subject to homage. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]