handsome

[ han-suhm ]

adjective

, hand·som·er, hand·som·est.

1. having an attractive, well-proportioned, and imposing appearance suggestive of health and strength; good-looking:

   a handsome man;

   a handsome woman.

   Antonyms: ugly

2. having pleasing proportions, relationships, or arrangements, as of shapes, forms, or colors; attractive:

   a handsome house;

   a handsome interior.

3. considerable, ample, or liberal in amount:

   a handsome fortune.

   Synonyms: munificent, generous, large

   Antonyms: scanty, scant, skimpy, meager

4. gracious; generous; flattering:

   a handsome compliment;

   a handsome recommendation.

   Antonyms: miserly, stingy, ungenerous

5. adroit and appealing; graceful:

   a handsome speech.

handsome

/ ˈhændsəm /

adjective

1. (of a man) good-looking, esp in having regular, pleasing, and well-defined features
2. (of a woman) fine-looking in a dignified way
3. well-proportioned, stately, or comely

   a handsome room

4. liberal or ample

   a handsome allowance

5. gracious or generous

   a handsome action

6. pleasant

   handsome weather

noun

1. a term of endearment for a beloved person, esp in my handsome

Derived Forms

• ˈhandsomely, adverb
• ˈhandsomeness, noun

Other Words From

• handsome·ish adjective
• handsome·ness noun
• super·handsome adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of handsome¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English hondsom, handsum “easy to control, handy”; cognate with West Frisian hānsum “easy to control, convenient,” Dutch handzaam “easy to manage”; hand, -some ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of handsome¹

C15: handsom easily handled; compare Dutch handzaam; see hand , -some ¹

Related Words

• attractive
• beautiful
• clean-cut
• dapper
• elegant
• good-looking
• graceful
• lovely
• personable
• smart
• smooth
• stately
• stylish
• suave