Where does “honestly” come from?
honestly (Middle English) comes from Middle English honeste, from Old French honesté, from Latin honestas, from Latin honestus, from Latin honor, from Old Latin honos — Alternative form of honor.
Ancestry of “honestly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | honeste | honest |
| 2 | Old French | honesté | — |
| 3 | Latin | honestas | respectability; honor, honour, honorableness;... |
| 4 | Latin | honestus | Full of or regarded with honor/honour;... |
| 5 | Latin | honor | honor, esteem, dignity, reputation, office |
| 6 | Old Latin | honos | Alternative form of honor |
Words derived from “honestly”