adj.
- free of deceit; truthful and sincere.
▸earned fairly through hard work:
an honest living.
▸(of an action) well intentioned even if misguided:
an honest mistake.
- simple and unpretentious:
good honest food with no gimmicks.
adv.
informal genuinely; really.
Phrase
- make an honest woman of
dated or humorous marry (a woman), especially to avoid scandal.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. honestus, from honos (see honour).