Defining Our Terms

Given the nature and content of our public conversations, I thought it might be helpful to define some of the words that we use so often. The following definitions are from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Honor:

·    good name or public esteem : reputation

·      a showing of usually merited respect : recognition 

·      privilege 

·      a person of superior standing —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office 

·      one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit 

·    an evidence or symbol of distinction: such as an exalted title or rank

·    an award in a contest or field of competition

·    archaic : a gesture of deference : bow

·      chastity, purity

·      a keen sense of ethical conduct : integrity 

·      one's word given as a guarantee of performance 

Moral:

·    of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical 

·      expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior 

·      conforming to a standard of right behavior 

·      sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment 

·      capable of right and wrong action 

Responsible:

·    liable to be called on to answer

·      liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent 

·      being the cause or explanation 

·    liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties

·    able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy

·    able to choose for oneself between right and wrong

·      marked by or involving responsibility or accountability 

·    politically answerable; especially : required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature —used especially of the British cabinet

Trust:

·    assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

·    one in which confidence is placed

·    dependence on something future or contingent : hope

·      reliance on future payment for property (such as merchandise) delivered : credit 

·    a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another

·    a combination of firms or corporations formed by a legal agreement; especially : one that reduces or threatens to reduce competition

·      care, custody 

·    a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship 

·    something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another

·    responsible charge or office

·    archaic : trustworthiness

Justice:

·    the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments 

·      the administration of law 

·      especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity 

·      the quality of being just, impartial, or fair 

·    the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action 

·      conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness 

·    the quality of conforming to law

·      conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness

Loyal:

·    unswerving in allegiance: such as faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government 

·      faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due 

·      faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product 

·    obsolete : lawful, legitimate