honesty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the quality of being honest
    honestness.
  2. noun southeastern European plant cultivated for its fragrant purplish flowers and round flat papery silver-white seedpods that are used for indoor decoration
    money plant; Lunaria annua; silver dollar; satinpod; satin flower.

WordNet


Hon"es*ty noun
Etymology
OE. honeste, oneste, honor, OF. honesté, onesté (cf. F. honnêteté), L. honestas. See Honest, a.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913