honest-likeadj.adv.

1589–90 in G. S. Pryde Ayr Burgh Accts. (1937) 165 For the sustentatioun of twa honest lyk pure men, suldartis come out of France.

a1656 A. Gray Direct. Duty of Prayer (1669) v. 111 When strong and subtile temptations appear plausible, honest-like and beautiful, then ye must be upon your watch.

1698 J. Kirkwood Plea before Kirk iii. 78 Must he not be pardon'd, if he can..wash himself, that he may appear somewhat honest-like amongst his Neighbours?

1701 J. Brand Brief Descr. Orkney, Zetland 67 The Bowrs, Fishers and other Country People also do go honest-like and decent in their Apparel, as becometh their station.

1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) viii. 219 He was..a well-looked, honest-like man, hardly forty, but..miserably afflicted with the gout.

1798 Monthly Mag. Dec. 435 Honest-like, has in some cases the same meaning with purposelike—it generally..implies something of fullness—thus, an honest-like man, means a jolly man, and an honest-like piece of beef, is a good substantial joint.

1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon & Gaël II. 34 He's a sonsy, furthy, honest-like lad.

1835 Wilson's Tales of Borders 10 Jan. 74/1 The Captain was a pleasant gentleman also, and very honest like.

1829 T. Hood Epping Hunt 24 And yet the conduct of the man Seemed honest-like and fair.

1845 Littell's Living Age 28 June 594/1 For a while his gentlemanly manners, his young honest-like face, and his interesting foreign accent, operated in his favor.

1902 ‘M. E. Francis’ Manor Farm v. 100 'T would be more honest-like to be the same behind their backs as before their faces.

1945 Argus (Melbourne) (Week-end Mag.) 20/3 ‘You can take this with you and copy it,’ he said, ‘and then you can bring it back to me. You look honest-like,’ he added, as if he thought his spontaneous generosity needed explanation.

2007 Harper's Mag. July 38/2 The city was..promising to do sumpin' real good and straight and honest-like.

1807 R. Tannahill Soldier's Return 20 That, honest-like, we might set aff our bairn.

1818 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Sept. 234/2 A house-wife..would expose herself to the censure of all those around her, were she to have her stores [sc. of winding-sheets] so empty, that those who died could not be ‘put away honest like’.

1899 Northern Star (Lismore, New S. Wales) 28 Oct. 9/6 Why didn't you deal as honestlike with me, and own up that you was of a quarrelsome nature?

1902 Presbyterian Banner 6 Nov. 15/1 Don't you see how his eyes shift about instead of looking at you, honest like?

1924 Overland Monthly May 227/3 Can't ye ever git a bit to do with yer hands, honest like?

1972 F. van W. Mason Roads to Liberty 27 I wanted to serve out my time—honestlike.

2005 T. Junker Tunnell's Boys 35 What I like in stories is when the teller tells it honest-like.