Okrand then confirmed the Klingon spelling for those words: tay veStay Sutay Santay 'Iptay We can now safely use the Klingon honorifics "ranks", and should not think about any literal meaning or any conflict with the Klingonaase language. 'Iptay is related to 'Ip oath (and there's also a verb 'Ip meaning swear, vow). One's honor is at stake when making a vow or swearing an oath, so he thought this also was a very appropriate honorific.