Dictionary Definition

homage n : respectful deference; "pay court to the emperor" [syn: court]

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Pronunciation

(Canada) /ˈhɑmədʒ/, /ˈɑmədʒ/
(Canada) /ˌoʊˈmɑʒ/ (see Usage Note below)

Noun

In feudalism, the promise of a vassal to obey his or her lord.
- 1593: William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona
  
  We'll do thee homage, and be rul'd by thee, / Love thee as our commander and our king.
A demonstration of respect, such as towards an individual after their retirement or death
- 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women
  
  When a man squeezes the hand of a pretty woman, ... she will consider such an impertinent freedom in the light of an insult, if she have any true delicacy, instead of being flattered by this unmeaning homage to beauty.
- 2006: New York Times
  
  It’s appropriate that we pay homage to them and the sacrifices they made.
An artistic work imitating another in a flattering style
- 2002: Dawson's Creek (TV, episode 6.01)
  
  He likes to tell people that it's a Hitchcockian thriller, but that's kind of like saying Happy Gilmore is a homage to Woody Allen.

Usage notes

The pronunciation /ˌoʊˈmɑʒ/ is restricted to the sense of an artistic work imitating another.

Translations

In feudalism, the promise of a vassal to obey his or her lord

Danish: lenshyldning
Finnish: uskollisuudenvala
German: Huldigung
Portuguese: homenagem

A demonstration of respect

Danish: hyldest , tribut
Finnish: kunnianosoitus
German: Hommage
Portuguese: homenagem

An artistic work imitating another in a flattering style

Danish: hyldest
Finnish: kunnianosoitus
German: Hommage

Translations to be checked

Extensive Definition

For medieval usage see homage (medieval) and commendation ceremony, or Homage (disambiguation)

Homage (from the French: Hommage) is generally used in modern English to mean any public show of respect to someone to whom one feels indebted. In this sense, a reference within a creative work to someone who greatly influenced the artist would be an homage. It is typically used to denote a reference in a work of art or literature to another, at least somewhat widely known, work. In literature and film, an homage is similar to an allusion, except that whereas an allusion merely refers to another work, a homage typically repeats a recognizable scene or stylistic element from the other work. Homage is also similar to parody, except that parodies typically exaggerate characteristics of previous works for comedic effect.

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

acceptance, accolade, acquiescence, adherence, adhesion, admiration, adoration, adulation, allegiance, apotheosis, appreciation, approbation, approval, assent, assigned task, attachment, awe, bend, bending the knee, bepraisement, bob, bona fides, bond, bonne foi, bounden duty, bow, bowing and scraping, breathless adoration, burden, business, call of duty, charge, co-worship, commitment, complaisance, compliance, conformity, congratulation, consent, consideration, constancy, courtesy, cult, cultism, cultus, curtsy, dedication, deference, deification, devoir, devotedness, devotion, dipping the colors, dulia, duteousness, duties and responsibilities, dutifulness, duty, eloge, encomium, esteem, estimation, ethics, eulogium, eulogy, exaggerated respect, exaltation, excessive praise, faith, faithfulness, favor, fealty, fidelity, firmness, flattery, genuflection, glorification, glory, good faith, great respect, hero worship, high regard, hommage, honor, hyperdulia, idolatry, idolization, idolizing, imperative, inclination, kneeling, kowtow, kudos, latria, laud, laudation, line of duty, lionizing, loyalty, magnification, making a leg, meed of praise, mission, must, nod, nonopposal, nonopposition, nonresistance, obedience, obediency, obeisance, obligation, obsequiousness, observance, onus, ought, overpraise, paean, panegyric, passiveness, passivity, place, praise, presenting arms, prestige, prostration, regard, resignation, resignedness, respect, reverence, reverential regard, salaam, salutation, salute, scrape, self-imposed duty, service, servility, servitium, standing at attention, staunchness, steadfastness, subjection, submission, submissiveness, submittal, suit and service, suit service, supineness, tie, transcendent wonder, tribute, troth, true blue, trueness, veneration, willingness, worship, worshiping, yielding

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