honester

English

Adjective

honester

1. (nonstandard or dated) comparative form of honest: more honest
   • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], page 113, column 2, line 1606:

     Yes I thank God, I am as honeſt as any man liuing, that is an old man, and no honeſter then I.

   • 1624, William Simons, “The Gouernment Returned againe to Sir Thomas Gates, 1611”, in John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, book 4; reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, →OCLC, page 111:

     […] Vpon the verge of the Riuer there are fiue houſes, wherein liue the honeſter ſort of people, as Farmers in England, and they keepe continuall centinell for the townes ſecuritie.

   • 1842, W.C., “‘You will injure our cause.’”, in The Oracle of Reason, Or, Philosophy Vindicated, volume 1, number 31, page 254:

     “You will hurt our cause!” has been the selfish, cowardly cry of all pseudo reformers, looking for the countenance and support of wealth and respectability, when honester men, guided by a love of principle alone, have stepped to the front, and asked no man to help them, but he who felt like themselves.

Further reading

• more honest,honester at Google Ngram Viewer

Anagrams

• Hortense, Thoresen

Latin

Verb

honester

1. first-person singular present passive subjunctive of honestō