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. --
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.
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.
Hom"age, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Homaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Homaging.] [Cf. OF. hommager.] 1.
To pay reverence to by external action. [R.]
2. To cause to pay homage. [Obs.]
Cowley.
