honest

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   gained or earned without cheating or stealing

   an honest wage

2. 2
   adj

   marked by truth

   gave honest answers

3. 3
   adj

   without pretensions

   worked at an honest trade

4. 4
   adj

   Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.

   brutally honest

5. 5
   adj

   True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.

   an honest account of events

6. 6
   adj

   In good faith; without malice.

   an honest mistake

7. 7
   adj

   Accurate.

   an honest scale

8. 8
   adj

   Authentic; full.

   an honest day's work

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”).