DISHONOUR

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dishonour mean? 

• DISHONOUR (noun)
  The noun DISHONOUR has 2 senses:

1. a state of shame or disgrace

2. lacking honor or integrity

  Familiarity information: DISHONOUR used as a noun is rare.

• DISHONOUR (verb)
  The verb DISHONOUR has 3 senses:

1. bring shame or dishonor upon

2. force (someone) to have sex against their will

3. refuse to accept

  Familiarity information: DISHONOUR used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISHONOUR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of shame or disgrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

dishonor; dishonour

Context example:

he was resigned to a life of dishonor

Hypernyms ("dishonour" is a kind of...):

standing (social or financial or professional status or reputation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dishonour"):

disesteem (the state in which esteem has been lost)

discredit; disrepute (the state of being held in low esteem)

corruptness (the state of being corrupt)

disgrace; ignominy; shame (a state of dishonor)

infamy; opprobrium (a state of extreme dishonor)

Derivation:

dishonour (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking honor or integrity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dishonor; dishonour

Hypernyms ("dishonour" is a kind of...):

unrighteousness (failure to adhere to moral principles)

Derivation:

dishonour (bring shame or dishonor upon)

• DISHONOUR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dishonour    ... he / she / it dishonours   
Past simple: dishonoured   
Past participle: dishonoured   
-ing form: dishonouring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring shame or dishonor upon

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame

Context example:

he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dishonour"):

befoul; defile; foul; maculate (spot, stain, or pollute)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to dishonour Sue

Derivation:

dishonour (lacking honor or integrity)

dishonour (a state of shame or disgrace)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Force (someone) to have sex against their will

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

assault; dishonor; dishonour; outrage; rape; ravish; violate

Context example:

The woman was raped on her way home at night

Hypernyms (to "dishonour" is one way to...):

assail; assault; attack; set on (attack someone physically or emotionally)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dishonour"):

gang-rape (rape (someone) successively with several attackers)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Refuse to accept

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

dishonor; dishonour

Context example:

dishonor checks and drafts

Hypernyms (to "dishonour" is one way to...):

decline; pass up; refuse; reject; turn down (refuse to accept)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

I dare not think further; for so I should in my thoughts dishonour a noble woman!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

‘Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,’ said he.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Your own fortune will make you independent of the Society's aid; and thus you may still be spared the dishonour of breaking your promise and deserting the band you engaged to join.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr. W. being infirm, and it being within the bounds of probability that his decease might lead to some discoveries, and to the downfall of—HEEP'S—power over the W. family,—as I, Wilkins Micawber, the undersigned, assume—unless the filial affection of his daughter could be secretly influenced from allowing any investigation of the partnership affairs to be ever made, the said—HEEP—deemed it expedient to have a bond ready by him, as from Mr. W., for the before-mentioned sum of twelve six fourteen, two and nine, with interest, stated therein to have been advanced by—HEEP—to Mr. W. to save Mr. W. from dishonour; though really the sum was never advanced by him, and has long been replaced.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Quincey's head is level at all times, but most so when there is to hunt, metaphor be more dishonour to science than wolves be of danger to man.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured age.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I replied—There is no dishonour, no breach of promise, no desertion in the case. I am not under the slightest obligation to go to India, especially with strangers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I wouldn't ask such a thing ordinarily—I wouldn't so dishonour you as to imply a doubt; but this is a mystery that goes beyond any honour or dishonour.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

You have dishonoured me forever!

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In the eyes of the world, I was doubtless covered with grimy dishonour; but I resolved to be clean in my own sight—and to the last I repudiated the contamination of her crimes, and wrenched myself from connection with her mental defects.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)