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.
Hon`es*ta"tion (?), n. The act of honesting; grace; adornment. [Obs.]
W. Montagu.
Ho*nes"te*tee (?), n. Honesty; honorableness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Hon"est*ly (?), adv. 1. Honorably; becomingly; decently. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. In an honest manner; as, a contract honestly made; to live honestly;
to speak honestly. Shak.
To come honestly by. (a) To get honestly. (b) A circumlocution for to
inherit; as, to come honestly by a feature, a mental trait, a
peculiarity.
Hon"es*ty (?), n. [OE. honeste, oneste, honor, OF. honestÈ, onestÈ (cf.
F. honnÍtetÈ), L. honestas. See Honest, a.] 1. Honor; honorableness;
dignity; propriety; suitableness; decency. [Obs.] Chaucer.
She derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.
Shak.
2. The quality or state of being honest; probity; fairness and
straightforwardness of conduct, speech, etc.; integrity; sincerity;
truthfulness; freedom from fraud or guile.
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.