means the quality of being truthful, sincere, and free from deceit in word and action.

from From Latin honestas, 'honor, respectability,' built on honos (later honor), 'esteem, dignity.' It arrived in English through Old French honeste in the Middle Ages, and at first leaned toward 'honorable, decent, respectable' more than 'truthful' — a sense still fossilized in the plant called honesty, named for its transparent, coin-like seed pods. The narrowing toward 'not lying' came later, as if the word slowly decided that the most respectable thing a person could do was simply tell the truth.