Hon"es*ty (?), n. [OE.
honeste, oneste, honor, OF. honesté,
onesté (cf. F.
honnêteté), L. honestas. See Honest, a.]
1. Honor; honorableness; dignity; propriety;
suitableness; decency. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
She derives her honesty and achieves her goodness.
Shak.
2. The quality or state of being honest; probity; fairness and straightforwardness of conduct, speech, etc.; integrity; sincerity;
truthfulness; freedom from
fraud or guile.
That we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Tim. ii. 2.
3. Chastity; modesty. Chaucer.
To lay . . . siege to the
honesty of this Ford's wife.
Shak.
4. (Bot.) Satin flower; the name of two cruciferous herbs having large flat pods, the round shining partitions of which are
more beautiful than the blossom; -- called also lunary and moonwort. Lunaria biennis is common honesty; L. rediva is perennial honesty.
Syn. -- Integrity; probity; uprightness; trustiness; faithfulness; honor; justice; equity; fairness; candor; plain- dealing; veracity; sincerity.
Hear it pronounced