Polski HONOR w świetle danych słownikowych
The Polish honor in dictionaries

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the treatment of the Polish honor in older and contemporary dictionaries: the two kinds of sources are taken as complementary. The present reconstruction aims for a “cognitive definition” of the concept of honor, i.e. the totality of the word’s semantics; it attempts to assign to it a place in the relevant lexico-semantic field and in a network of conceptual relationships. The network consists of, among others, synonyms, opposites, collections, complexes and collocations.The semantics of honor contains ‘integrity, honesty’, firmly entrenched in the word’s etymology (this was the original meaning of the word). In the 17th and 18th c. it was associated with unblemished reputation and meant ‘good name’. As the basic meaning of honor, 20th-c. dictionaries give ‘personal dignity’, and its connection with dignity is entrenched in synonyms and derivatives. Honor is associated with faithfulness to the word given, good behaviour, politeness and hospitality. Dictionaries point to the link between “honor” and men, rather than women, as well as typical men’s professions (honor zawodowy ‘professional honor’, honor górnika ‘miner’s honor’). In the sense of ‘good name’ is also attributed to women.

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