Hon"est (?), a. [OE. honest,
onest, OF. honeste, oneste, F.
honnête, L. honestus, fr. honos,
honor, honor. See Honor.] 1.
Decent; honorable; suitable; becoming.
Chaucer.
Belong what honest clothes you send forth to
bleaching!
Shak.
2. Characterized by integrity or fairness and
straight?forwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.; upright;
just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere; free from fraud,
guile, or duplicity; not false; -- said of persons and acts, and of
things to which a moral quality is imputed; as, an honest
judge or merchant; an honest statement; an honest
bargain; an honest business; an honest book; an
honest confession.
An honest man's the noblest work of
God.
Pope.
An honest physician leaves his patient when he
can contribute no farther to his health.
Sir W.
Temple.
Look ye out among you seven men of honest
report.
Acts vi. 3.
Provide things honest in the sight of all
men.
Rom. xii. 17.
3. Open; frank; as, an honest
countenance.
4. Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
Wives may be merry, and yet honest
too.
Shak.
Syn. -- Upright; ingenuous; honorable; trusty; faithful;
equitable; fair; just; rightful; sincere; frank; candid; genuine.
Hon"est, v. t. [L. honestare to
clothe or adorn with honor: cf. F. honester. See
Honest, a.] To adorn; to grace; to
honor; to make becoming, appropriate, or honorable. [Obs.]
Abp. Sandys.