'honestly-presented' originates from English, formed as a compound of the adverb 'honestly' and the past participle 'presented'. The element 'honestly' traces to 'honest' from Latin 'honestus' ('honorable, respectable') via Old French 'honeste' and Middle English 'honest', with the adverbial suffix '-ly' from Old English '-līce' ('in the manner of'). The element 'presented' derives from the verb 'present', from Latin 'praesentare' ('to show, place before') via Old French 'presenter' and Middle English 'presenten'.

'honestus' became Old French 'honeste', then Middle English 'honest', which with OE '-līce' yielded 'honestly'; Latin 'praesentare' became Old French 'presenter', then Middle English 'presenten', yielding Modern English 'present' and its participle 'presented'. These elements combined in Modern English as 'honestly-presented'.

Initially, it meant 'shown truthfully and without deception'; the compositional sense has remained stable, now commonly referring to accounts, reports, or depictions free of spin or embellishment.