adj. & adv.
adj. 1 fair and just in character or behaviour, not cheating or stealing. 2 free of deceit and untruthfulness, sincere. 3 fairly earned (an honest living). 4 (of an act or feeling) showing fairness. 5 (with patronizing effect) blameless but undistinguished (cf. WORTHY). 6 (of a thing) unadulterated, unsophisticated.
adv. colloq. genuinely, really. earn (or turn) an honest penny earn money fairly. honest broker a mediator in international, industrial, etc., disputes (orig. of Bismarck). honest Injun colloq. genuinely, really. honest-to-God (or -goodness) colloq. adj. genuine, real.
adv. genuinely, really. make an honest woman of colloq. marry (esp. a pregnant woman).
[ ME f. OF (h)oneste f. L honestus f. honos HONOUR ]