These words all refer to estimable qualities. Truthful and veracious , stemming respectively from the Old English and Latin words for true, are close synonyms that mean habitually telling or disposed to tell the truth. Veracious is considerably more formal and more limited in application; it is used principally of a person¡¯s habitual tendency rather than of particular instances of truth-telling: a veracious (or truthful ) man; a truthful remark. Honest and good are, of course, rich with connotations; as here considered, honest means not given to lying, cheating or stealing, and stresses the virtuous and worthy motivation and principles of a person usually complimentary ¨C since truth after all is highly valued ¨C do not necessarily suggest an accompanying nobility of character: a truthful but malicious retort; He was veracious but unkind. Honest in this sense implies holding nothing back; it suggests an extreme candidness, even when at one¡¯s own expense: an honest admission of his failure. Good may suggest honourable motives and noble character even more strongly than honest , but, unless placed in a limiting context, suffers from vagueness. By itself it is little more than a reflection of the high opinion of the writer: a good reporter; a good , straight answer. Reputable , although it refers specifically to a good reputation, implies that the reputation is justified. Reputable may be used of a solid, respectable, dependable person highly regarded by the community, or it may be applied to a firm known for the consistent good quality of its goods or services: a reputable doctor; a reputable department store. On the other hand, reputable may simply mean famous or greatly esteemed for one¡¯s achievements: a reputable physicist.