\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.
         Belong what honest clothes you send forth to
         bleaching!                            --Shak.
2. Characterized by integrity or fairness and
   straight?forwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.;
   upright; just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere;
   free from fraud, guile, or duplicity; not false; -- said
   of persons and acts, and of things to which a moral
   quality is imputed; as, an honest judge or merchant; an
   honest statement; an honest bargain; an honest business;
   an honest book; an honest confession.
         An honest man's the noblest work of God. --Pope.
         An honest physician leaves his patient when he can
         contribute no farther to his health.  --Sir W.
                                               Temple.
         Look ye out among you seven men of honest report.
                                               --Acts vi. 3.
         Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
                                               --Rom. xii.
                                               17.
3. Open; frank; as, an honest countenance.
4. Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
         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.