Crossword Genius

Honesty: nice first of all, with less pain involved (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

plainness

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'honesty' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'nice first of all with less pain involved' is the wordplay.
'first of all' indicates taking the first letters.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'involved' is an anagram indicator (involved can mean confusing or complex).
The initial letter of 'nice' is 'n'.
'n'+'less'+'pain'='nlesspain'
'nlesspain' anagrammed gives 'PLAINNESS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for plainness that I've seen is " Homely appearance".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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