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Honest vs Rectitude - What's the difference?

honest | rectitude |

As an adjective honest

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

As a verb honest

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

As a noun rectitude is

straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.

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.

    rectitude

    Noun

  • Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
  • * 2010 , (Christopher Hitchens), Hitch-22 , Atlantic 2011, p. 98:
  • A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right.
  • Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue.
  • * 1776 , , et al.'', ''Declaration of Independence , 4 Jul.:
  • We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.

    Quotations

    *

    Synonyms

    * (rightness of principle) honesty, integrity, morality

    References

    *

    Anagrams

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