pay ones respects
English Meaning & Definitions
To express one's condolences, formally visit someone to show politeness, or honor someone who has recently died.
- “Hundreds of people came to the funeral home to pay their respects to the grieving family.”
- “The ambassador stopped by the embassy to pay her respects to the visiting dignitaries.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “pay ones respects”.
Originating in formal social etiquette, the phrase combines 'pay' (to give what is due, from Latin pacare 'to appease') with 'respects' (feelings of deep admiration or formal expressions of regard, from Latin respectus 'regard, look back at'). Historically, it referred to making a formal social call to acknowledge a person of higher status or to visit someone who had suffered a bereavement.
Think of attending a formal gathering or a funeral where you 'pay' (give) your formal 'respects' (bows or condolences) to show proper manners.
Frequently Asked Questions About “pay ones respects”
1. What is the meaning of “pay ones respects” in English?
In English, pay ones respects (idiom) is defined as: “To express one's condolences, formally visit someone to show politeness, or honor someone who has recently died.”.
2. How do you use “pay ones respects” in a sentence?
“Hundreds of people came to the funeral home to pay their respects to the grieving family.”
3. What are English synonyms of “pay ones respects”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “pay ones respects”?
Originating in formal social etiquette, the phrase combines 'pay' (to give what is due, from Latin pacare 'to appease') with 'respects' (feelings of deep admiration or formal expressions of regard, from Latin respectus 'regard, look back at'). Historically, it referred to making a formal social call to acknowledge a person of higher status or to visit someone who had suffered a bereavement.
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