different between dishonour vs debasement

English

Alternative forms

• dishonor (American)

Etymology

From Old French deshonor.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /d?s??n?(?)/

Noun

dishonour (countable and uncountable, plural dishonours) (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa)

1. Shame or disgrace.

   You have brought dishonour upon the family.

2. Lack of honour or integrity.
3. (law) Failure or refusal of the drawee or intended acceptor of a negotiable instrument, such as a bill of exchange or note, to accept it or, if it is accepted, to pay and retire it.

Synonyms

• unhonour

Translations

Verb

dishonour (third-person singular simple present dishonours, present participle dishonouring, simple past and past participle dishonoured) (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa)

1. To bring disgrace upon someone or something; to shame.

   You have dishonoured the family.

2. To refuse to accept something, such as a cheque; to not honor.
3. To violate or rape.

Translations

English

Etymology

debase +? -ment

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??be?sm?nt/
• Rhymes: -e?sm?nt

Noun

debasement (countable and uncountable, plural debasements)

1. The act of debasing or the state of being debased; a lowering or degradation, especially in character or quality.
   • 1832, Edgar Allan Poe, "Bon Bon":

     His large water-dog was acquainted with the fact, and upon the approach of his master, betrayed his sense of inferiority by a sanctity of deportment, a debasement of the ears, and a dropping of the lower jaw not altogether unworthy of a dog.

   • 2009, Gilbert Cruz, "The Many Faces of Addiction (Book review of America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life by Benoit Denizet-Lewis)," Time, 12 Jan.:

     There's something ugly and fascinating about reading such intimate tales of debasement and depression and failure and self-doubt.

2. The lowering of the value of a currency by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

Translations