Lewis & Short

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hŏnestas, ātis, f. [honestus], honorableness.

  1. I. (Acc. to honestus, I.) Honorable consideration which a man enjoys, honor, reputation, character, respectability, credit, opp. to turpitudo (class.; cf.: existimatio, dignitas).
    1. A. Lit.: quid est honestas nisi honor perpetuus ad aliquem secundo populi rumore delatus. Lact. 3, 8, fin.: unde pudor, continentia, fuga turpitudinis, appetentia laudis et honestatis? Cic. Rep. 1, 2; cf.: fugiendae turpitudinis adipiscendaeque honestatis causa, id. Tusc. 2, 27, 66; Gell. 1, 3, 23 sq.: nihil esse in vita magnopere expetendum nisi laudem atque honestatem, Cic. Arch. 6, 14; cf.: omnia, quae putant homines expetenda, honestas, gloria, tranquillitas animi atque jucunditas, id. Lael. 22, 84; id. Phil. 7, 5, 14: cogita, ea nobis erepta esse, quae hominibus non minus quam liberi cara esse debent, honestatem, dignitatem, honores omnes, id. Fam. 4, 5, 2: quas familias honestatis amplitudinisque gratia nomino, on account of their character, id. Rosc. Am. 6, 15: honestate spoliatus, id. Rab. Post. 16, 44; cf.: omni jure atque honestate interdictus, Q. Metell. ap. Gell. 17, 2, 7: fautor infimi generis hominum, odio alienae honestatis, Liv. 1, 47, 11: honestatem omnem amittere, consideration, respect, Cic. Rosc. Am. 39, 114: in eoque (officio) et colendo sita vitae est honestas omnis et in negligendo turpitudo, id. Off. 1, 2, 4; Gell. 1, 3, 24: honestati alicujus convenire (with subj. clause), Paul. Sent. 3, 5, 2.
      In plur. (= honores): ceteris ante partis honestatibus atque omni dignitate fortunaque aliquem privare, Cic. Mur. 40, 87.
    2. B. Transf., concr.: causa, in qua omnes honestates civitatis, omnes aetates, omnes ordines una consentiunt, honorable, reputable persons, Cic. Sest. 51, 109.
  2. II. (Acc. to honestus, II.)
    1. A. Honorableness of character, honorable feeling, honor, honesty, probity, integrity, virtue (class.): ubi est autem dignitas, nisi ubi honestas? Cic. Att. 7, 11, 1: nemo est inventus tam perditus, tam ab omni non modo honestate sed etiam simulatione honestatis relictus, qui, etc., id. Rab. Perd. 8, 23 and 24: (qui summum bonum) suis commodis, non honestate metitur … honestatem propter se expetere, id. Off. 1, 2, 5 and 6; cf.: cum omnis honestas manet a partibus quatuor, quarum, etc., id. ib. 1, 43, 152; and: habes undique expletam et perfectam formam honestatis, quae tota his quatuor virtutibus continetur, id. Fin. 2, 15, 48; Quint. 3, 8, 26: et in laude justitia utilitasque tractantur, et in consiliis honestas, id. 3, 4, 16: sunt qui tradant tanta eum (Staberium Erotem) honestate praeditum, ut, etc., such an honorable, noble character; Fr. honnēteté, Suet. Gramm. 13: quod factum causā publicae honestatis vindictam exspectat, Paul. Sent. 5, 4, 21.
    2. B. Transf., of things, beauty, grace (very rare): testudinis, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 1, § 2: si est honestas in rebus ipsis, de quibus dicitur, exsistit ex rei natura quidam splendor in verbis, id. de Or. 3, 31, 125.