honest

From Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestare to clothe or adorn with honour, and compare French honester.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒnɪst/
  • (RP dated) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːnɪst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑnɪst/

• Audio (US)

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honest (comparative honester or more honest, superlative honestest or most honest)

1. (of a person or institution) Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.

   We’re the most honest people you will ever come across.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Sir W. Temple

     An honest physician leaves his patient when he can contribute no farther to his health.

2. (of a statement) True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.

   an honest account of events

   honest reporting

3. In good faith; without malice.

   an honest mistake

4. (of a measurement device) Accurate.

   an honest scale

5. Authentic; full.

   an honest day’s work

6. Earned or acquired in a fair manner.

   an honest dollar

7. Open; frank.

   an honest countenance

8. (obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare

     Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

   • 1624, William Simons, “The Gouernment Returned againe to Sir Thomas Gates, 1611”, in John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: Printed by I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, OCLC 1049014009, book 4; reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, OCLC 633956660, page 111:

     […] Vpon the verge of the Riuer there are fiue houſes, wherein liue the honeſter ſort of people, as Farmers in England, and they keepe continuall centinell for the townes ſecuritie.

   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] CLV. A Shepherd and a Wolves Whelp [Reflexion].”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: Printed for R[ichard] Sare, […], OCLC 228727523, page 6:

     [T]here are Wolf-Whelps in Palaces, and Governments, as well as in Cottages, and Foreſts. […] They go out however, as there is Occaſion, and Hunt and Growle for Company; but at the ſame time, they give the Sign out of their Maſters hand, hold Intelligence with the Enemy; and Make uſe of their Power and Credit to Worry Honeſter Men them Themſelves.

9. (obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare

     Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.

• See also Thesaurus:honest

• dishonest

• honesty
• make an honest woman

honest (third-person singular simple present honests, present participle honesting, simple past and past participle honested)

1. (obsolete) To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Archbishop Sandys to this entry?)

   • (Can we date this quote?) Ben Jonson

     You have very much honested my lodging with your presence.

honest (comparative more honest, superlative most honest)

1. (colloquial) Honestly; really.

   It wasn’t my fault, honest.

• honest in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• honest in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• Heston, Stheno, oneths