adj.
Pronunciation: ' ä-n ə st
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor
Date: 14th century
1 a : free from fraud or deception : LEGITIMATE , TRUTHFUL <an honest plea> b : GENUINE , REAL <making honest stops at stop signs ― Christian Science Monitor > c : HUMBLE , PLAIN <good honest food>
2 a : REPUTABLE , RESPECTABLE < honest decent people> b chiefly British : GOOD , WORTHY
3 : CREDITABLE , PRAISEWORTHY <an honest day's work>
4 a : marked by integrity b : marked by free, forthright, and sincere expression : FRANK <an honest appraisal> c : INNOCENT , SIMPLE
synonyms see UPRIGHT