In senses 2 and 3 very common in the 16th cent.
1. a. Physically or morally objectionable, offensive, or unpleasant; indecent, filthy, vile.
13[?]. K. Alis., 6472. Bothe byfore and eke byhynde, They haveth clothyng unhonest.
a. 1350. St. Philip & Jas., 21, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 52. Blastes out of his mouth he blew, Þat war so euyl and vn-honeste, Þai destryd oft both man and beste.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 283. The membres of our body that be moost vnhonest and moost rebellynge to our reason.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 152 b. Whatsoever thyng wer not of it self unhonest, he affermed not to bee unhoneste in open presence.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VIII. xx. His shamefull parts, that shunne the hated light, Were naked left; (ah foul unhonest sight!).
b. Uncomely, unhandsome.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. xii. 23. And tho membris that ben vnhonest, han more honeste.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. lxvi. (Bodl. MS.). If a man is withoute heed heere, he is yholde þe more vnhoneste.
c. Unseemly, unbecoming, improper.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 96, in Babees Bk. While þou holdes mete in mouthe, be war To drynke, þat is an [vn]honest char.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 277. Item that the bookis and vestmentis bien broken and vnhonest for dyuine seruice.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 89 b. It was not a thyng unhonest for one to carrye a gammonde of bakon in his hande.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 234. They dayly chaunged there apparel, sometime long and wide, and at another tyme, cutted short…, and altogether vnsemely and vnhonest.
2. Of actions, language, etc.: a. Morally unfitting or unbecoming; unseemly, immodest, lewd.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 579. Alle illez he hates…; But non nuyez hym … As harlottrye vnhonest, heþyng of seluen.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 29. I dreede to telle holy wordis wiþ my foule mouþ; fillid wiþ unhoneste wordis.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 142. Thair undertaking was in the begynnyng unhonest, unlefull.
c. 1475. Babees Bk., 99. Whenne yee er sette, take noone vnhoneste tale.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xvi. T ij. Yf in songes vnhonest, & tryfylles, & talkynges of langage, he swereth god.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., IV. xii. (1622), 107. Domitius Afer … laid to her charge that she lead an vnhonest life with Furnius.
1607. Dekker, Jests to make you Merry, Wks. (Grosart), II. 302. To this vnhonest pleasure, is begot a companion repentance.
1645. Ussher, Body Div., 279. This commandement [is] broken by … taking delight in hearing un honest things.
b. Dishonorable, discreditable.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 100. A wowe is … vnwise, wan it is only about temporal þingis, or vnhonest, or vnprofitable to soule hele.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 41. What profettis þi frenship vnto me, when þu desyris me for to do for þe þat þing þat is vnhoneste?
a. 1470. Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), IV. xviii. 181/2. The suget shal not … do ony thyng unryghtfull & unhonest.
1540. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 254. There is daunger of vnhonest condicions or of Discontentement at departing.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1384/1. My case is hard, but yet am I not so desperat as to reuenge it vpon my selfe, which must needs be the euent of so vnhonest and vnpossible an enterprise.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. x. § 5. 116. He brought an vnhonest message to his owne Countrimen.
1649. Canne, Snare Broken, 14. An oath is unlawfull when … we promise any thing that is unjust or unhonest.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Unhonest, dishonourable, dishonest. Stated in Todd’s John. to be obsolete; but it is not so in the North.
3. Of persons: a. Not honorable, respectable, or of good repute; acting in a dishonorable or discreditable manner. Also absol.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxvii. 13. With the dredful trete [not] or bataile,… with the vnhonest, of honeste. Ibid. (1388), Prov. xxv. 8. Whanne thou hast maad thi frend vnhonest.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 64. Kepe þy most noble saule hegh,… þat ys geuyn to þe, noght to be maad vnhonest by þe, but to be enhyed and glorifyed.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 16 b. This false father in lawe, this untrew, unhonest and perjured persone.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 32. These and such like, as confounders of all ciuility,… are confirmed to be vnhonest.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 462. Some ambitious unhonest fellow.
1624. Burton, Anat. Mel. (ed. 2), III. ii. 442. Of a majesticall presence, but peradventure imperious, vnhonest, selfewill’d.
b. Bad or immoral in character or conduct; disreputable.
c. 1422. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, 218/63. To goode wommen that it be no shame, Al thogh þat thow vnhonest wommen blame.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 190. Gif a man fyndis ane unhonest foule creature hafand conversacioun with his wyf.
1536. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 28. They shall not geve theymself to drinking and ryote sitting all daye at Tables or cardes playng … and specially with vnhonest and vnthryftye persons.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 60. All which were in their liues very vnhonest, and in their gouernement very offensiue.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. i. If a Nurse be mishapen, vnchast, vnhonest, impudent, drunke,… the child … will be so too.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 35. George cryit—Unhonest Beoche and adulterous Beoche.
4. Dishonest (in respect of dealings with others).
a. Of actions, gain, etc. (Also dial. as adv.)
1583. Fulke, Def. Tr. Script., iii. (1843), 195. This scornful replier … is so accustomed to false and unhonest dealing.
1607. Markham, Cavel., III. (1617), 35. To give a false colour to their owne knowledges,… or … to get vnhonest polling pence to their own purses.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xxxv. 109. Vnworthines is euer the end of vnhonest Deceit.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 109. The purchess of there bischoprikis be brybes, thair vnhonest dealling in civill barganes.
1730. St. Trials, I. 315. The Earl as well abusing the King’s Favours,… as bearing unhonest Friendship, in Conference with Sir Thomas concerning that Imployment.
1901. ‘Zack,’ Dunstable Weir, 48. What wud it feel like to come by the money unhonest?
b. Of persons.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 20. Honest fletchers and bowyers do not so, and they that be vnhonest, oughte … to amende them selues.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xv. The old man … folowed his suite with all meanes of vnhonest seruants, large promises [etc.].
1603. Breton, Dial. Pith & Pleas., Wks. (Grosart), II. 13/2. How vnhonest is that labourer, who will not worke for his wages?
1645. in J. Wilson, Annals of Hawick (1850), 65. In calling of him … ane runnigat beggar,… and ane false unhonest thief.
1825–. in dial. glossaries (N.Cy., Yorks., Lancs., Linc.).
