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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To come honestly by

Honestly \Hon"est*ly\, adv.

  1. Honorably; becomingly; decently. [Obs.]
    --Chaucer.

  2. In an honest manner; as, a contract honestly made; to live honestly; to speak honestly. --Shak. To come honestly by.

    1. To get honestly.

    2. A circumlocution for to inherit; as, to come honestly by a feature, a mental trait, a peculiarity.