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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Honesté, -tie, n. Also: -tee, -ty. [ME. honesté (c 1330), -tee, -tie, e.m.E. -ty, OF. honesté, L. honestās.]

1. Becomingness or goodness of conduct or character; good repute.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 548.
Hys eyn with his hand closit he, For to dey with mar honeste a1400 Leg. S. x. 365.
Gyf that it [sc. matrimony] will anowrnyt be Vith gud werk & with honeste Ib. xxvii. 1473.
Of gud lyf & honeste Gud ensamplar to thaim … was he c1400 Troy-bk. II. 2037.
Settand all schame behynd … , Declynand ay frome honeste c1420 Wynt. iv. 1984.
The threllys serwandys ay Sall honeste at wndyr lay Ib. vii. 70.
Set thow hawe fadyt thi lawte, Do this dede yhit wyth honeste ?1438 Alex. II. 3133.
Wmbethink thé, schir, of honeste 1490 Irland Mir. I. 78/19.
He had vaikit with his lady to that werk with gret honour & honeste 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 255.
Honeste baith and gude fame war adew Ib. ix. Prol. 8.
Honeste is the way to worthynes(b) 1456 Hay I. 122/23.
Na of othir thing that pertenis till his honoure na his honestee c1460 Thewis Wysmen 418.
With woid wordis ful of vanite, And nys bourdis but honestee a1500 Henr. III. 103/35.
Hir hois of honestie … I suld for hir provyd c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi. 43.
Sum gevis to men of honestie, And haldis all janglaris at disdenȝie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2695.
Dochteris … , Quhose honestie ȝe suld lufe as ȝour lyffis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxx. 61.
Godlie guid men of fame and honestie 1596 Dalr. I. 95/26.
A reuerend feir and dreid thay haue leist thay offend in things of honestie

b. Of honesté, honestly, of a truth. 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
I ville nocht say … that alle thir teydens … ar trewe, bot off honeste I saw vraytingis apon the sam

2. A becoming degree of some good quality, esp. good condition; respectability.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 83.
That the cyte mycht ay be Kepyd fra glwt in honeste Ib. vi. 1803.
He … gert thame with gret honeste Fyrst browcht wp and tretyd be 1445 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 14.
That thai sell na flesche bot under the tolbuth, and at it be kepit in honeste 1513 Doug. 907/4.
Say thai nocht I myne honeste haue degraid 1531 Reg. Soltre 105.
The said provest sall giff … to the said Jhone thua crownis of the sonne in his purs to helpe his honeste 1533 Boece xi. xxi. 451.
Kirkis neclectit afore, or nocht weill anornit, to thare first honeste suld be restorit 1536 Maxwell Mem. I. 278.
To caus sic ordinances and honesteis to be had … for the ressaving … of ws and our … spous and Quene(b) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 106.
Gif sche … be gracious to hir menȝhe, Kepand hir husbandis honestee 1477 Edinb. Chart. 140.
For the honour, proffit, and honestie of our saide burgh 1498 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 75.
Na maner of persouns … exceptand folkis of honesty passand thair leifull airands 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 19.
The saidis, … sall putt our said takkis and landis till all possible pollecye and honestie thai may 1561 Dundee B. Laws 23.
The oversight and charge anent the … honestie of the said kirk and kirkȝeard 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 277.
That na gild brether vse the tred of topping and selling in smallis of sic grof waires as efferis nocht to the honestie of ane gild brother