honest

Etymology

From Middle English honest, honeste (“honourable, appropriate, excellent”), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestāre (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced native Old English sōþfæst (literally “truth-firm”).

adj

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.
   A true and honest physician is excused for leaving his patient, when he finds the disease grown desperate c. 1680, William Temple, Of Popular Discontents
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.
9. (obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

verb

1. (obsolete) To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.
   You have very much honested my lodging with your presence.

adv

1. (colloquial) Honestly; really.
   It wasn’t my fault, honest.