honest English · revision 3757

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la honōs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒn.ɪst/, US /ˈɑː.nɪst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|honest]] or oneste,^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|fro|honeste|t=virtuous, honourable; decent, respectable]] (French honnête),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|honestus|t=honourable, respected]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|honōs|t=honour, esteem]] and the suffix -tus.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[honour]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Respectable, decent, of neat appearance, and also “free from fraud”: about 1300 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) probably before 1300 in ''Kyng Alisaunder'', as respectable or honourable, according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) Its first sense was “held in or deserving of honour”.^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The main modern sense, “fair, truthful, free from deceit”, is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) though Barnhart finds it before 1325 in ''Cursor Mundi''.^(Barnhart 1988) “Of good moral character, virtuous” is from 1390,^(OED 1989) and about 1400 it also meant “chaste”, of women.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''To make an honest woman of'', to marry a woman after seducing her, is from the 1620s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A vague term of praise, often patronising, as in ''honest fellow'', is from 1551.^(OED 1989) The noun [[honesty]] first meant “honour”, before 1338.^(Barnhart 1988) In Yorkshire dialect an ''honest'' cow gave her milk readily and did not kick.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – respectable; free from fraud.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1325 – truthful, upright.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1338 – ''honesty'', honour.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1390 – virtuous.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – chaste.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1551 – term of approval.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – ''to make an honest woman of''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Showing [[integrity]]; upright and fair.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not [[deceive|alt=deceptive]] or [[fraud|alt=fraudulent]]; genuine.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Truthful; [[sincere]] and frank.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Of good repute; respectable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Plain and without pretension: ''honest food''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(informal)'' Honestly; truly.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[honestness]]

+ * [[honestly]]

+ * [[overhonest]]

+ * [[honesty]]

+ * [[honest-to-goodness]]

+ * [[honest broker]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[honour]]

+ * [[honorary]]

+ * [[dishonest]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}