# honest

Pronunciation: US say "AH-nist" /ˈɑ.nɪst/; UK say "ON-ist" /ˈɒn.ɪst/

## Adjective

1. Truthful and frank: not hiding the truth or one's real thoughts and feelings, and showing things as they really are.
   - Simple: Saying or showing things as they really are, without hiding the truth or what you really think.
   - _We need an honest assessment of the project's chances._
   - _Thanks for being honest with me about how you really feel._
2. Careful to tell the truth and not given to lying, cheating, or fraud; upright.
   - Simple: Telling the truth and not cheating, lying, or stealing.
   - _The shop owner is so honest that she once drove across town to return a customer's lost wallet._
   - _He built his reputation by staying honest in every business deal._
4. Authentic and full; genuine, without pretension or stinting.
   - Simple: Real and complete, not fake or skimpy.
   - _The cafe serves honest, hearty fare with no fuss._
   - _It was an honest pour, the glass filled to the brim._
5. Made or done in good faith, without malice.
   - Simple: Done in good faith, without wanting to hurt anyone.
   - _The referee admitted the call was wrong but insisted it was an honest mistake, not a favor to the home team._
   - _She made an honest attempt to help, even though it failed._
6. Obtained fairly, whether earned through work or gained by other legitimate means.
   - Simple: Earned or gained fairly, without cheating or stealing.
   - _After years of shady deals, he wanted to earn an honest dollar for once._
   - _She made an honest living selling vegetables at the farmers market._

## Adverb

3. Used to emphasize that a statement is sincere or true; really. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Used to promise that what you say is really true.
   - _I had no idea about the party, honest._
   - _Honest, she never said a word to me about leaving._

## Adjective

7. Decent, honorable, and suitable; seemly or becoming to one's station. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Decent and proper, fitting for the time or place.
8. Chaste, faithful, and virtuous, especially in matters of sexual conduct. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Faithful and pure, especially to a husband or wife.

## Verb

9. To adorn or grace; to make something becoming, appropriate, or honorable. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To add beauty or honor to something.

## Origin

This comes from Middle English honest ("honorable, appropriate, excellent"), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, which derives from honor. It replaced the native Old English word sōþfæst, literally "truth-firm."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/honest (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).