The word homage comes from Latin, specifically from the word pleités which, in turn, comes from the verb placere, which means to like, please or seem appropriate. The noun placitum refers to what someone likes. With the passage of time, the term evolved in its meaning and homage is a manifestation of recognition towards someone.
In other words, it is a show of respect. However, it is not about respect between equal people, but rather there is normally an individual who holds a privileged position and another who is below him.
The expression pay homage
“Render homage” is a common expression in Spanish and indicates an attitude of reverence towards someone, usually a person with some high rank and some power. For example, “my friend pays homage to his boss.” In this sense, it is sometimes used as a synonym for another expression, “to suck up to someone”, that is, to flatter them.
Also, it can be used in a derogatory sense, implying that someone has a subservient attitude towards another person, for example, “the new worker pays homage to the head of personnel because he is worried about his future job”.
On the other hand, paying homage is equivalent to worship in some contexts, such as when someone deeply admires a famous person (“my mother pays homage to the Rolling Stones”).
A reflection on the term
Both the word homage and the expression pay homage are cultured forms that are used infrequently. This unusual use has a sociological explanation: in the society model in which we live, there are no privileged social groups by birth. In this way, although there are still rich and poor, bosses and employees, there is no class system of society and, consequently, there is no obligatory homage to anyone.
During the Middle Ages in Spain there was a social division and this caused the lower social classes to pay homage to the higher ones. In this sense, there are several concepts that refer to the submission of some with respect to others: vassalage, servant, commoner and others.
Thus, the vassal had to pay homage to the lord and the same thing happened to the lord with respect to the nobleman and the nobleman in relation to the sovereign. Somehow, the vast majority of the population had to pay homage to someone and it was not a courtesy formula but rather expressed a servile, obedient and docile attitude.
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