different between earnestly vs honest

English

Etymology

From Middle English ernestly, from Old English eornostl??e (“earnestly, strictly”), equivalent to earnest +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n?stli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???n?stli/

Adverb

earnestly (comparative more earnestly, superlative most earnestly)

1. In an earnest manner; being very sincere; putting forth genuine effort.

Translations

Synonyms

• for real; see also Thesaurus:honestly

English

Etymology

From Middle English honest, honeste, from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honest?re (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced Old English ferht (“honest”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??n?st/
  • (RP dated) IPA^(key): /???n?st/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??n?st/

Adjective

honest (comparative honester or more honest, superlative honestest or most honest)

1. (of a person or institution) Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
   • c. 1680, William Temple, Of Popular Discontents

     A true and honest physician is excused for leaving his patient, when he finds the disease grown desperate

2. (of a statement) True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.

3. In good faith; without malice.

4. (of a measurement device) Accurate.

5. Authentic; full.

6. Earned or acquired in a fair manner.

7. Open; frank.

8. (obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)
9. (obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:honest

Antonyms

• dishonest

Derived terms

• honesty
• keep someone honest
• make an honest woman

Translations

Verb

honest (third-person singular simple present honests, present participle honesting, simple past and past participle honested)

1. (obsolete) To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.
   • 1609, Ben Jonson, Epicœne, or The Silent Woman

     You have very much honested my lodging with your presence.

Adverb

honest (comparative more honest, superlative most honest)

1. (colloquial) Honestly; really.

   It wasn’t my fault, honest.

Further reading

• honest in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• honest in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Heston, Stheno, oneths

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin honestus.

Adjective

honest (feminine honesta, masculine plural honests or honestos, feminine plural honestes)

1. upright, decent, honorable

Derived terms

• deshonest
• honestament

Related terms

• honestedat
• honor

Further reading

• “honest” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “honest” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
• “honest” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “honest” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.