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honorary

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honorary

Pronunciation

Absolutely! Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "honorary" along with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

IPA: /ˈɒnərərɪ/ (British English) /ˈɑn.əˌɹɛɹ.i/ (American English)

Syllable Breakdown (British English):

  • hon- /ɒn/ - Open back rounded vowel sound like "awe"

  • -o- /ə/ - Schwa sound, a central unstressed vowel sound

  • -ra- /ɹɛ/ - Approximant "r" sound followed by a diphthong with a close-mid front unrounded vowel sound like "bet" and a near-open central unrounded vowel sound

  • -ry /ɪ/ - Close front unrounded vowel sound like "beat"

Syllable Breakdown (American English):

  • ho- /ɑn/ - Open back rounded vowel sound like "father"

  • -o- /ə/ - Schwa sound, a central unstressed vowel sound

  • -ra- /ɹɛ/ - Approximant "r" sound followed by a diphthong with a close-mid front unrounded vowel sound like "bet" and a near-open central unrounded vowel sound

  • -ry /ɪ/ - Close front unrounded vowel sound like "beat"

Word Form Variations

The term "honorary" has only a few variations in form:

  • Singular: honorary (This is the most common form used for both adjectives and nouns.)

  • Plural: honorary (The plural form is identical to the singular form.)

There are no verb forms or comparative/superlative forms for "honorary" since it functions primarily as an adjective.

Here's an additional note:

  • Honorarium: This is a related noun, but it has a different meaning. It refers to a payment given for a service, especially when there's no set fee. However, it's not directly related to the concept of "honorary" itself.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Adjective:

  • Definition:

    1. Given or awarded as a sign of respect or recognition, typically without the usual requirements or qualifications.

    2. Holding a position or title that is bestowed as an honor and doesn't involve the usual duties or responsibilities (often unpaid).

  • Synonyms: complimentary, titular, honorary (itself), courtesy, laudatory

  • Antonyms: earned, qualified, required, mandatory, official

Noun (less common):

  • Definition:

    1. An honorary member, degree, or title.

  • Synonyms: award, distinction, accolade (less specific)

  • Antonyms: requirement, qualification (less specific)

Examples of Use

Books:

  • J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix": Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, is described as having received the "Order of Merlin, First Class (Honorary)" for his services to the wizarding world (J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"). This showcases the "honorary" status of the award, highlighting Dumbledore's achievements without implying he held a specific position within the Order.

Newspapers:

  • The New York Times headline: "Baseball Commissioner Manfred Awards Hank Aaron Honorary World Series Ring" (The New York Times, June 16, 2023). Here, "honorary" emphasises that the ring recognizes Aaron's contributions to the sport, not for participating in a specific World Series.

Online Publications:

  • National Geographic website: "Jane Goodall Named Honorary Chief of Tanzania by President Magufuli" (National Geographic, March 4, 2016). This use highlights the honorary nature of the title, acknowledging Goodall's respect and influence without implying official authority.

Entertainment Mediums:

  • In the TV show "The Good Doctor," Dr. Aaron Glassman, a renowned surgeon, receives an "honorary professorship" at a prestigious medical school. This reflects his expertise without implying he actively teaches courses.

Public Discourse:

  • "The town council awarded Ms. Johnson honorary citizenship in recognition of her lifelong volunteer work." This common usage emphasises the honorary nature of the title, bestowed for service rather than legal status.

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Honorary

Unfortunately, the word "honorary" isn't as prevalent in very famous quotes. However, here are some interesting quotes that use "honorary" in different ways:

  1. "I am proud and humble recipient of more than 30 honorary doctorate degrees." (Carl Sagan, astrophysicist) - This quote showcases the awarding of honorary titles.

  2. "I really do feel Jewish, even though I'm a Catholic. The way the Church has been behaving, I'm happy to be an honorary Jew...you know; all the best people are." (Golda Meir, former Israeli Prime Minister) - This quote uses "honorary" in a more informal way, expressing a sense of belonging.

  3. "Honorary Consul" (Title of a novel by Graham Greene) - This is an example of a title using "honorary."

  4. "I am the honorary president of the American Humanist Society..." (Isaac Asimov, science fiction author) - This quote highlights the non-binding nature of an honorary position.

  5. "John Lennon is my honorary favorite New Yorker..." (Jay-Z, rapper) - This quote uses "honorary" to express personal admiration.

  6. "Although I live in Europe, I think of myself as an honorary American." (Quote found on BrainyQuote) - This quote showcases the feeling of belonging despite not having official status.

  7. "I was once made honorary mayor of my hometown..." (Quote found on BrainyQuote) - This is another example of an honorary position.

  8. "He was an honorary member of the firefighter's association in recognition of his bravery." (Fictional example)

  9. "We should award them honorary citizenship for their contributions to the community." (Fictional example)

  10. "She was presented with an honorary doctorate for her lifelong work in social justice." (Fictional example)

Etymology

The word "honorary" is basically a fancy way of saying "having to do with honour." It all started with the Latin word "honour," which means respect or esteem.

Imagine the Romans giving out awards or titles not because someone necessarily earned them through work or competition, but because they wanted to show respect for that person's achievements. They might call these awards "honorarius" (pronounced ho-no-RA-ri-us), which is where "honorary" comes from.

The first time we actually saw "honorary" written down in English was around the early 1600s. It kept the same meaning – referring to something given as a sign of honor, not necessarily requiring the usual work or qualifications.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Honorary

  • Phrases:

    • Honorary degree: An academic degree awarded to someone as a recognition of their achievements, not for completing coursework.

    • Honorary member: Someone who is given membership in a group or organisation as a sign of respect, even though they don't meet the usual requirements.

    • Honorary title: A title bestowed upon someone as a mark of honour, but without the associated power or duties.

    • Honorary citizen: A person who is given the rights and privileges of citizenship in a particular place as a sign of respect, but without actually being a legal citizen.

    • In an honorary capacity: Serving in a position or role for the sake of honour, without receiving payment or holding official authority.

    Idioms (less common):

    • Honorary member of the club: This can be used informally to describe someone who is not officially part of a group but is accepted and included in their activities.

    • An honorary (something): This can be used playfully to describe someone who embodies a particular quality, even if they don't possess it in an official way. For example, "He's the honorary comedian of the office, always making us laugh."

Posts Related to Honorary

Source Information

Definition of honorary from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.