honestus Latin · revision 3899

15 Oct 2026, 20:29 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la honor}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [hɔˈnɛs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [oˈnɛs.tus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''honestus''' (feminine honesta, neuter honestum, comparative honestior, superlative honestissimus, adverb honestē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is formed from an old neuter noun [[m|la|*honos|t=genitive -eris]], a variant of [[honor]], with [[m|la|-tus]], as [[decus]] stands beside [[decor]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary compares [[pgn|hanustu]].^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Plautus has “it is more honourable for me than for you to do this openly”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant regarded with honour, of good repute, and well-born, of high rank, as Cicero's ''honesto loco natus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Morally it meant honourable, worthy, and the neuter ''honestum'' became the philosophical term for moral good.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also meant handsome, of fine appearance, as Terence's girl of handsome looks.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ As a noun it meant a man of standing, from Horace onwards.^(Köbler 2010) In medieval Latin it also meant rich.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''honest'' came from it through Old French around 1300.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of honourable conduct.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a handsome girl.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of good birth.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 1300 – English ''honest'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Respected, of good repute.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Well-born, of high rank.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # [[m|en|Honourable]], virtuous, decent.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Handsome, of fine appearance.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Rich.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ===Noun===
+ # A man of standing.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[dehonestus]]
+ * [[honestās]]
+ * [[honestitūdō]]
+ * [[honestō]]
+ * [[honestum]]
+ * [[inhonestus]]
+ * [[perhonestus]]
+ * [[honestē]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[honestāmentum]]
+ * [[honor]]
+ * [[honōrābilis]]
+ * [[honōrārium]]
+ * [[honōrārius]]
+ * [[honōrātē]]
+ * [[honōrātiō]]
+ * [[honōrātus]]
+ * [[honōrificē]]
+ * [[honōrificentia]]
+ * [[en|honest]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}