bona fideadv.adj.
/ˌbəʊnə ˈfʌɪdi/, /ˌbəʊnə ˈfiːdeɪ/, U.S. /ˈboʊnə ˌfaɪd/, /ˈbɑnə ˌfaɪd/, /ˌboʊnə ˈfaɪdi/, /ˌboʊnə ˈfideɪ/ A. adv.
In good faith, with sincerity; genuinely.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adverb]
utterly?c1225
entirelya1340
faithlyc1350
without (but) feigningc1380
clearly1389
whollyc1390
unfeigninglyc1400
entirec1430
unfeigneda1469
without coloura1513
honestly1526
singly1526
unfeignedly1526
uncolourably1541
bona fide1542
frankly?1553
sincerely1560
squarely1564
uprightly1565
square1577
single-mindedly1579
undissemblinglyc1585
above board1599
fair and square1604
downright1607
downrightly1632
really1641
uncasuistly1649
honest1654
up tro1654
plain-heartedly1675
unaffectedly1677
straightforwardly1839
wholeheartedly1845
unfallaciously1852
up and down1854
single-heartedly1857
unflatteringly1874
uncynically1895
square on1963
1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII iv The same to procede bona fide, without fraude.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxii. xxxiii. 830 He dealeth not soundly and bona fide [L. neque cum fide agit] in treaties of peace.
1722 London Gaz. No. 6082/3 A Horse..that is not Bona Fide his own.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §177 Our men were really and bonâ fide employed in the Edystone service.
B. adj. (originally used with agent nouns, or those involving some quality, as in ‘bona fide purchaser’, ‘bona fide poverty’, ‘bona fide traveller’.)
Acting or done in good faith; sincere, genuine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adjective]
aefauldOE
trueOE
true as steela1300
throlya1375
entirec1380
faithfula1382
entirelyc1400
single1519
sincere1533
sincere1539
simple-minded1556
Dunstable?1565
truthful?1567
single-hearted1574
single-minded1577
sound1580
downright1584
unaffected1592
real1597
plain-hearted1601
unartificial1603
free1619
honest1634
fair and square1636
round-dealing1642
wholehearted1657
down flata1663
well-designing1670
heart-whole1684
single-eyed1705
unsanctimoniousa1797
natural1825
bona fide1827
unfallacious1827
jannock1828
forthcoming1835
up and down1836
bonified1840
forthgoing1851
unhypocritical1854
forthright1855
upstanding1863
on the level1872
genuine1890
for real1954
upfront1967
1827 T. Jarman Powell's Ess. Learning of Devises (ed. 3) II. 17 Act not to extend to bonâ fide purchasers for a valuable consideration.
1865 Sat. Rev. 5 Aug. 170/2 Interfering with the bonâ fide character of the proceeding.
1882 Med. Temp. Jrnl. No. 50. 83 The bona fide poor are benefited.
Derivatives
ˌbonaˈfidically adv. Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1819 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) III. 314 Two men who love nonsense so cordially, and naturally, and bonâfidically.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.adj.1542