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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Honey

Hŏn'ey, n.

noun

(hŭn′y), n. [A-S. hunig, O. Sax. honeg, hanig, O. H. Ger. honic, honag, honac, honang, M. H. Ger. honec, N. H. Ger. & D. honig, Icel. hunang, Sw. håning, Dan. honning.]

  1. A sweet, thick fluid, collected by bees from the flowers of plants, and deposited in cells of the comb in hives. When pure, it is of a yellowish white color, sweet to the taste, of an agreeable odor, soluble in water, and becomes vinous by fermentation. Its odor and fragrance are due to the flowers from which it is obtained, and when gathered from poisonous plants it produces deleterious effects upon the human system, though innocuous to the bees.
  2. That which is sweet or pleasant, like honey.

The king hath found, Matter against him that forever mars The honey of his language. Shak. 3. Sweet one; darling; — a word of endearment. Dryden.

Hŏn'ey, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. HONEYED; p. pr. & vb. n. HONEYING.] To be gentle or agreeable; to talk fondly; to use endearments; hence also, to be or become obsequiously courteous or complimentary; to practise servile flattery; to fawn. “Honeying and making love.” Shak.

One Discussed his tutor, rough to common men, But honeying at the whisper of a lord. Tennyson.

Hŏn'ey, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To make agreeable or luscious; to sweeten. “Honeyed lines of rhyme.” Byron.