debt of honor
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.39 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An obligation, especially a gambling debt based on a verbal promise, which is not legally enforceable but which is considered to be secured by the debtor's moral integrity.
American usage
Example Sentences
- "[T]his whole sum, and its amount doubled, was lost at the gaming-table. In his desire to repair his first losses, my father risked double stakes, and thus incurred a debt of honour he was wholly unable to pay."
- ""I owe this money to Sheridan; it is a debt of honor; if an accident should happen to me, he has nothing to show.""
- "They had commenced playing cards for amusement—at least, that was Congreve's pretext—but it had led to playing for a stake. . . . "This is a debt of honor. Gentlemen always pay their debts of honor. It takes precedence of all other claims.""
- "Lady Frederick: Is it a gambling debt? Gerald: Yes. Lady Frederick [ironically]: What they call a debt of honour? Gerald: I must pay it the day after to-morrow without fail."
- "[H]e is opposed to the suggestion that Brazil declare a moratorium on its international debts repayments. Said he: "We must pay what we owe. It is a debt of honor for the nation.""
- "Brought up in Quebec, Glassco latterly was able to repay to French-speaking Canada a debt of honour by creating in 1999 in Montreal a company of young actors drawn from both the English- and French-speaking communities."
Usage
- American usage