Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HOM'AGE, n. [Fr. hommage; Sp. homenage; It. omaggio; from L. homo, man.]

1. In feudal law, the submission, loyalty and service which a tenant promised to his lord or superior, when first admitted to the land which he held of him in fee; or rather the act of the tenant in making this submission, or being invested with the fee. The ceremony of doing homage was thus performed. The tenant, being ungirt and uncovered, kneeled and held up both his hands between those of the lord, who sat before him, and there professed that “he did become his man, from that day forth, of life and limb and earthly honor,” and then received a kiss from his lord. Blackstone.
2. Obeisance; respect paid by external action. Go, go, with homage yon proud victors meet. Dryden.
3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection.

HOM'AGE, v.t.

To pay respect to by external action; to give reverence to; to profess fealty.

HOM'AGE-A-BLE, a.

Subject to homage. Howell.

HOM'A-GER, n.

One who does homage, or holds land of another by homage. Bacon.

HOMBERG'S-PYROPHOROUS, n. [Homberg's pyrophorous.]

From some recent experiments by Guy-Lussac, it appears that the essential ingredient of Homberg's Pyrophorus is sulphuret of potassium in a state of minute division. Turner.

HOME, a.

Close; severe; poignant; as, a home thrust.

HOME, adv. [This is merely elliptical, to being omitted.]

1. To one's own habitation; as, in the phrases, go home, come home, bring home, carry home.
2. To one's own country. Home is opposed to abroad, or in a foreign country. My brother will return home in the first ship from India.
3. Close; closely; to the point; as, this consideration comes home to our interest, that is, it nearly affects it. Drive the nail home, that is, drive it close. To haul home the top-sail sheets, in seamen's language, is to draw the bottom of the top-sail close to the yard-arm by means of the sheets. An anchor is said to come home, when it loosens from the ground by the violence of the wind or current, &c.

HOME, n. [Sax. ham; G. and D. heim; Sw. hem; Dan. hiem; Gr. κωμη; properly, a house, a close place or place of rest. Hence hamlet, Fr. hameau, Arm. hamell. The primary sense is probably to inclose, to cover, or to make fast. Derivatives in G. D. Sw. and Dan. signify secret, close; and we say, to bring home arguments, that is, press them close; to drive home a nail, &c. If the radical sense is close, it may be from the same root as Ar. كَمَي kamai, to cover. See Chimistry, and Class Gm, No. 7, 9, 20, 23.]

1. A dwelling-house; the house or place in which one resides. He was not at home. Then the disciples went away again to their own home. John xx. Home is the sacred refuge of our life. Dryden.
2. One's own country. Let affairs at home be well managed by the administration.
3. The place of constant residence; the seat. Flandria, by plenty, made the home of war. Prior.
4. The grave; death; or a future state. Man goeth to his long home. Eccles. xii.
5. The present state of existence. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 2 Cor. v. At home, at one's own house or lodgings. To be at home, to be conversant with what is familiar.

HOME'BORN, a.

1. Native; natural. Donne.
2. Domestic; not foreign. Pope.

HOME'-BOUND, or HOME'WARD-BOUND, a.

Bound or directing the course homeward, or to one's native land.

HOME'BRED, a.

1. Native; natural; homebred lusts. Hammond.
2. Domestic; originating at home; not foreign; as, homebred evil. Spenser.
3. Plain; rude; artless; uncultivated; not polished by travel. Only to me two homebred youth belong. Dryden.

HOME'BUILT, a.

Built in our own country. Jefferson.

HOME'-DRIV-EN, a.

Driven home, as a blow; driven closely.

HOME'-DWELL-ING, a.

Dwelling at home.

HOME'FELT, a.

Felt in one's own breast; inward; private; as, homefelt joys or delight. Milton. Pope.

HOME'KEEP-ING, a.

Staying at home. Shak.

HOME'LESS, a.

Destitute of a home.

HOME'LI-ER, a. [comp.]

More homely.

HOME'LI-EST, a. [superl.]

Most homely.

HOME'LI-NESS, n. [from homely.]

1. Plainness of features; want of beauty. It expresses less than ugliness.
2. Rudeness; coarseness; as, the homeliness of dress or of sentiments. Addison.

HOME'LOT, n.

An inclosure on or near which the mansion house stands.

HOME'LY, a. [from home.]

1. Of plain features; not handsome; as, a homely face. It expresses less than ugly. Let time, which makes you homely, make you wise.
2. Plain; like that which is made for common domestic use; rude; coarse; not fine or elegant; as, a homely garment; a homely house; homely fare. Now Strephon daily entertains / His Chloe in the homeliest strains. Pope.

HOME'LY, adv.

Plainly; rudely; coarsely; as, homely dressed. [Little used.]

HOME'LYN, n.

A fish.

HOME'MADE, a.

Made at home; being of domestic manufacture; made either in private families, or in one's own country. Locke.