Dishonor \Dis*hon"or\ (d[i^]s*[o^]n"[~e]r or d[i^]z*[o^]n"[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dishonored} (d[i^]s*[o^]n"[~e]rd or d[i^]z*[o^]n"[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Dishonoring}.] [OE. deshonouren, F. d['e]shonorer; pref. d['e]s- (L. dis-) + honorer to honor, fr. L. honorare. See {Honor}, v. t.] [Written also {dishonour}.] 1. To deprive of honor; to disgrace; to bring reproach or shame on; to treat with indignity, or as unworthy in the sight of others; to stain the character of; to lessen the reputation of; as, the duelist dishonors himself to maintain his honor.
Nothing . . . that may dishonor Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite. --Milton.
2. To violate the chastity of; to debauch. --Dryden.
3. To refuse or decline to accept or pay; -- said of a bill, check, note, or draft which is due or presented; as, to dishonor a bill exchange.
Dishonor \Dis*hon"or\ (d[i^]s*[o^]n"[~e]r or d[i^]z*[o^]n"[~e]r), n. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. d['e]shonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See {Honor}.] [Written also {dishonour}.] 1. Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach.
It was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor. --Ezra iv. 14.
His honor rooted in dishonor stood. --Tennyson.
2. (Law) The nonpayment or nonacceptance of commercial paper by the party on whom it is drawn.
The general denied a coup was being planned and said Silva's charges brought dishonor to the armed forces.
In Arab culture, losing face is considered a major dishonor. Arab conflicts traditionally are handed over to a respected mediator trusted by both sides.
He said he is not accusing Gallo of fraud but of a laboratory accident that carried no "dishonor." The French were first to publish information about their virus, in May 1983, but the finding, from one isolated case, was largely ignored.
The committee's special counsel, Robert S. Bennett, suggested the panel recommend to the Senate that Durenberger be publicly denounced for "reprehensible" financial misconduct that brought "dishonor and disrepute" on the chamber.