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.
Phrases and idioms:
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).
Etymology: ME f. OF (h)oneste f. L honestus f. honos HONOUR