honest

honest
   A frequently used vocative element in the seventeenth century. Shakespeare has e.g.: honest neighbour, honest gentleman, honest master, honest Launcelot, honest friend, mine honest friend, honest nurse, honest soldier, etc. Occasionally the word appears to be patronizing, used by a social superior to an inferior. In many instances it is merely a conventional word of compliment or approval expressing a friendly attitude. In modern times the word would probably only be used in an exclamatory way to someone who has just proved his honesty, e.g. by returning to its owner something he had found, but the word is certainly not used frequently in vocative expressions.

A dictionary of epithets and terms of address . . 2015.

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  • Honest — Hon est, a. [OE. honest, onest, OF. honeste, oneste, F. honn[^e]te, L. honestus, fr. honos, honor, honor. See {Honor}.] 1. Decent; honorable; suitable; becoming. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Belong what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching! Shak …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Honest — (né au IIIème siècle, mort en 270) est un saint et martyr catholique du IIIe siècle, originaire de Nîmes. Il est fêté le 16 février. Sommaire 1 Hagiographie 2 Reliques 3 Annexes …   Wikipédia en Français

  • honest — [än′ist] adj. [ME < OFr honeste < L honestus < honor, honor] 1. Obs. a) held in respect; honorable b) respectable, creditable, commendable, seemly, etc.: a generalized epithet of commendation 2. that will not lie, cheat, or steal;… …   English World dictionary

  • honest — I adjective aboveboard, accurate, actual, artless, as represented, authentic, bald, blunt, candid, clean, conscientious, correct, creditable, decent, downright, earnest, equitable, erect, estimable, ethical, evenhanded, exact, factual, fair, fair …   Law dictionary

  • honest — ► ADJECTIVE 1) free of deceit; truthful and sincere. 2) fairly earned: an honest living. 3) simple and unpretentious. ► ADVERB informal ▪ genuinely; really. ● make an honest woman of Cf. ↑make an ho …   English terms dictionary

  • Honest — 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. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • honest — (adj.) c.1300, respectable, decent, of neat appearance, also free from fraud, from O.Fr. honeste (12c.; Mod.Fr. honnête), from L. honestus honorable, respected, regarded with honor, figuratively deserving honor, honorable, respectable, from honos …   Etymology dictionary

  • honest! — idiom (informal) used to emphasize that you are not lying • I didn t mean it, honest! Main entry: ↑honestidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • Honest — (v. lat.), achtbar, anständig; daher Honestissimus, Hochachtbarer (als Titel). Honestas publica, der gute Ruf …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • honest — *upright, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable Analogous words: truthful, veracious (see corresponding nouns at TRUTH): candid, open, plain, *frank: *straightforward, aboveboard, forthright: *fair, equitable, dispassionate, objective… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • honest — [adj] truthful, candid above board, authentic, bona fide*, conscientious, decent, direct, equitable, ethical, fair, fair and square*, forthright, frank, genuine, high minded*, honorable, impartial, ingenuous, just, law abiding*, lay it on the… …   New thesaurus

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