Dis*hon"or (d&ibreve;s*&obreve;n"&etilde;r or
d&ibreve;z-), n. [OE. deshonour,
dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F.
déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) +
honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor.
See Honor.] [Written also dishonour.]
1. Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame;
reproach.
It was not meet for us to see the king's
dishonor.
Ezra iv. 14.
His honor rooted in dishonor
stood.
Tennyson.
2. (Law) The nonpayment or
nonacceptance of commercial paper by the party on whom it is
drawn.
Syn. -- Disgrace; ignominy; shame; censure; reproach;
opprobrium.
Dis*hon"or (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Dishonored (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Dishonoring.] [OE. deshonouren, F.
déshonorer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) +
honorer to honor, fr. L. honorare. See Honor,
v. t.] [Written also dishonour.]
1. To deprive of honor; to disgrace; to bring
reproach or shame on; to treat with indignity, or as unworthy in the
sight of others; to stain the character of; to lessen the reputation
of; as, the duelist dishonors himself to maintain his
honor.
Nothing . . . that may dishonor
Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.
Milton.
2. To violate the chastity of; to
debauch. Dryden.
3. To refuse or decline to accept or pay; --
said of a bill, check, note, or draft which is due or presented; as,
to dishonor a bill exchange.
Syn. -- To disgrace; shame; debase; degrade; lower; humble;
humiliate; debauch; pollute.
