ˈɔnɪst adj. & adv. --adj. 1 fair
and just in
character or
behaviour,
not cheating or stealing. 2
free of
deceit and untruthfulness,
sincere. 3
fairly earned (an honest living). 4 (of an
act or feeling)
showing fairness. 5 (with patronizing effect)
blameless but
undistinguished (cf. WORTHY). 6 (of a thing)
unadulterated,
unsophisticated. --adv. colloq. genuinely,
really. øearn (or turn) an honest
penny earn money fairly. honest
broker a mediator in
international,
industrial,
etc., disputes (orig. of Bismarck). honest
Injun colloq. genuinely, really. honest-to-God (or -goodness) colloq. adj.
genuine, real. --adv. genuinely, really.
make an honest
woman of colloq. marry (esp. a
pregnant woman). [ME f. OF (h)oneste f. L honestus f. honos HONOUR]