What is the difference between honest and earnest?

As adjectives the difference between honest and earnest

is that honest is scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright while earnest is serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.

As verbs the difference between honest and earnest

is that honest is to adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable while earnest is to be serious with; use in earnest.

As a noun earnest is

gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

As a proper noun Earnest is

a given name derived from Germanic, an occasional spelling variant of Ernest.

honest

English

Adjective

(en-adj)

(of a person or institution) Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.

We're the most honest people you will ever come across.

* Sir W. Temple

An honest physician leaves his patient when he can contribute no farther to his health.

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

an honest''' account of events''; '''''honest reporting

In good faith; without malice.

an honest mistake

(of a measurement device) Accurate.

an honest scale

Authentic; full.

an honest day's work

Earned or acquired in a fair manner.

an honest dollar

Open; frank.

an honest countenance

(obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.

* Shakespeare

Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!

(Chaucer)

(obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

* Shakespeare

Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.

Synonyms

* See also

Antonyms

* dishonest

Derived terms

* honest as the day is long * honesty

Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

(Archbishop Sandys)

* (Ben Jonson)

You have very much honested my lodging with your presence.

External links

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earnest

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ernest, eornest, from (etyl) eornest, eornost, .

Noun

(-)

Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

* Sir Philip Sidney

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest .

* Shakespeare

given in earnest what I begged in jest

Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance); fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.

Derived terms

* earnestful * in earnest

Verb

(en verb)

To be serious with; use in earnest.

* 1602 , Pastor Fido:

Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.

Etymology 2

From (etyl) eornest, from (etyl) .

Adjective

(en-adj)

Serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.

Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavour; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; — used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers .

Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention .

Possessing or characterised by seriousness; strongly bent; intent.

an earnest disposition

Strenuous; diligent.

earnest efforts

Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; not trifling or feigned; important.

Derived terms

* (l) * (l)

Etymology 3

Of uncertain origin; apparently related to (erres). Compare also (l).

Noun

(en noun)

A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.

* 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 365:

But if all this was viewed by Gladstone and the Cabinet as an earnest of St Petersburg's future good intentions in Central Asia, then disillusionment was soon to follow.

Anagrams

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