Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French honeste, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor
Pronunciation : ä-n&st
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. truthful, frank, candid. honest\hon"est\ , a. [oe. honest, onest, of. honeste, oneste, f. honnête, l. honestus, fr. honos, honor, honor. see:
honor.].
2. decent; honorable; suitable; becoming. belong what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!.
3. characterized by integrity or fairness and straight forwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.; upright; just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere; free from fraud, guile, or duplicity; not false; -- said of persons and acts, and of things to which a moral quality is imputed; as, an honest judge or merchant; an honest statement; an honest bargain; an honest business; an honest book; an honest confession. an honest man's the noblest work of god. an honest physician leaves his patient when he can contribute no farther to his health. w. temple. look ye out among you seven men of honest report. vi.
4. provide things honest in the sight of all men. xii.
5. 3. open; frank; as, an honest countenance.
6. chaste; faithful; virtuous. wives may be merry, and yet honest too.
7. Decent; honorable; suitable; becoming.
8. Characterized by integrity or fairness and straight&?;forwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.; upright; just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere; free from fraud, guile, or duplicity; not false; said of persons and acts, and of things to which a moral quality is imputed; as, an honest judge or merchant; an honest statement; an honest bargain; an honest business; an honest book; an honest confession.
9. Open; frank; as, an honest countenance.
10. Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
11. To adorn; to grace; to honor; to make becoming, appropriate, or honorable. not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent; "honest lawyers"; "honest reporting"; "an honest wage"; "honest weight" marked by truth; "gave honest answers" without pretensions; "worked at an honest trade"; "good honest food" without dissimulation; frank; "my honest opinion".
12. 1. If you describe someone as honest, you mean that they always tell the truth, and do not try to deceive people or break the law. I know she's honest and reliable. + honestly hon·est·ly She fought honestly for a just cause and for freedom.
13. If you are honest in a particular situation, you tell the complete truth or give your sincere opinion, even if this is not very pleasant. I was honest about what I was doing He had been honest with her and she had tricked him! = frank + honestly hon·est·ly It came as a shock to hear an old friend speak so honestly about Ted. = frankly.
14. emphasis You say `honest' before or after a statement to emphasize that you are telling the truth and that you want people to believe you. I'm not sure, honest.
15. emphasis Some people say `honest to God' to emphasize their feelings or to emphasize that something is really true. I wish we weren't doing this, Lillian, honest to God, I really do.
16. feelings You can say `to be honest' before or after a statement to indicate that you are telling the truth about your own opinions or feelings, especially if you think these will disappoint the person you are talking to. To be honest the house is not quite our style.