Meaning of honour (was:Re: House Elves and justice, etc)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 129857

> > Finwitch:
> As for house-elves, I believe some, if not most of them (like 
Winky) 
> consider it an honour AND pleasure to serve. (why does the phrase 
> sound so familiar?)
> 


Or yes it *does* sounds familiar! And JKR plays with the meanings 
of "service", "serve", and "servant", and "services" throughout the 
whole OOP. As for `honour' and `pleasure' – you are quite right of 
course, but it has nothing to do with elves' "moral superiority and 
integrity etc", but rather with that of their masters. Lets consult 
a dictionary: in the New Oxford Compact entry for `honour' runs for 
two full pages and the first meaning is: `1. High respect or 
reverence accorded to exalted worth or rank; deferential admiration 
and approbation. a. As felt or entertained in the mind for some 
person or thing. b. as received or shown: the expression of high 
estimation. c. As received, held gained and enjoyed; glory renowned 
fame, credit, reputation; the opposite of dishonour, disgrace'.
It fits your example perfectly, but here we have again the inferiors 
render respect to the superiors. The latter have all the honours so 
to speak, while the former dwell in the state of disgrace.  

a_svirn