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1828 Noah Webster Dictionary
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1828.mshaffer.comWord [handsome]

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handsome

HAND'SOME, a.

1. Properly, dexterous; ready; convenient.

For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem it was first invented for him.

This sense is either from the original meaning of hand, or from the use of the hand, or rather of the right hand. In this sense the word is still used. We say of a well fought combat and victory, it is a handsome affair, an affair well performed, done with dexterity or skill. [See Handy.]

2. Moderately beautiful, as the person or other thing; well made; having symmetry of parts; well formed. It expresses less than beautiful or elegant; as a handsome woman or man; she has a handsome person or face. So we say, a handsome house; a handsome type.

3. Graceful in manner; marked with propriety and ease; as a handsome address.

4. Ample; large; as handsome fortune.

5. Neat; correct; moderately elegant; as a handsome style or composition.

6. Liberal; generous; as a handsome present.

The applications of this word in popular language are various and somewhat indefinite. In general, when applied to things, it imports that the form is agreeable to the eye, or to just taste; and when applied to manner, it conveys the idea of suitableness or propriety with grace.

HAND'SOME, as a verb, to render neat or beautiful, is not an authorized word.




Evolution (or devolution) of this word [handsome]

1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

HAND'SOME, a.

1. Properly, dexterous; ready; convenient.

For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem it was first invented for him.

This sense is either from the original meaning of hand, or from the use of the hand, or rather of the right hand. In this sense the word is still used. We say of a well fought combat and victory, it is a handsome affair, an affair well performed, done with dexterity or skill. [See Handy.]

2. Moderately beautiful, as the person or other thing; well made; having symmetry of parts; well formed. It expresses less than beautiful or elegant; as a handsome woman or man; she has a handsome person or face. So we say, a handsome house; a handsome type.

3. Graceful in manner; marked with propriety and ease; as a handsome address.

4. Ample; large; as handsome fortune.

5. Neat; correct; moderately elegant; as a handsome style or composition.

6. Liberal; generous; as a handsome present.

The applications of this word in popular language are various and somewhat indefinite. In general, when applied to things, it imports that the form is agreeable to the eye, or to just taste; and when applied to manner, it conveys the idea of suitableness or propriety with grace.

HAND'SOME, as a verb, to render neat or beautiful, is not an authorized word.


HAND'SOME, a. [D. handzaam, soft, limber, tractable; hand and zaam, together. Zaam, or saam, we see in assemble. The sense of docility is taken from hand, as in G. behandeln, D. behandelen, to handle, to manage. The Dutch sense of soft, limber, is probably from the sense of easily managed or handled.]

  1. Properly, dextrous; ready; convenient. For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spenser. This sense is either from the original meaning of hand, or from the use of the hand, or rather of the right hand. In this sense the word is still used. We say of a well fought combat and victory, it is a handsome affair, an affair well performed, done with dexterity or skill. [See Handy.]
  2. Moderately beautiful, as the person or other thing; well made; having symmetry of parts; well formed. It expresses less than beautiful or elegant; as a handsome woman or man; she has a handsome person or face. So we say, a handsome house; a handsome type.
  3. Graceful in manner; marked with propriety and ease; as, a handsome address.
  4. Ample; large; as, a handsome fortune.
  5. Neat; correct; moderately elegant; as, a handsome style or composition.
  6. Liberal; generous; as, a handsome present. The applications of this word in popular language are various and somewhat indefinite. In general, when applied to things, it imports that the form is agreeable to the eye, or to just taste; and when applied to manner, it conveys the idea of suitableness or propriety with grace.

HAND'SOME, v.t. [as a verb]

to render neat or beautiful, is not an authorized word. Donne.


Hand"some
  1. Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient; -- applied to things as persons.

    [Obs.]

    That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and handsome to be moved and turned about. Robynson (Utopia).

    For a thief it is so handsome as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spenser.

  2. To render handsome.

    [Obs.] Donne
  3. Agreeable to the eye or to correct taste; having a pleasing appearance or expression; attractive; having symmetry and dignity; comely; -- expressing more than pretty, and less than beautiful; as, a handsome man or woman; a handsome garment, house, tree, horse.
  4. Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate; as, a handsome style, etc.

    Easiness and handsome address in writing. Felton.

  5. Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.

    Handsome is as handsome does. Old Proverb.

  6. Ample; moderately large.

    He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money. V. Knox.

    To do the handsome thing, to act liberally. [Colloq.]

    Syn. -- Handsome, Pretty. Pretty applies to things comparatively small, which please by their delicacy and grace; as, a pretty girl, a pretty flower, a pretty cottage. Handsome rises higher, and is applied to objects on a larger scale. We admire what is handsome, we are pleased with what is pretty. The word is connected with hand, and has thus acquired the idea of training, cultivation, symmetry, and proportion, which enters so largely into our conception of handsome. Thus Drayton makes mention of handsome players, meaning those who are well trained; and hence we speak of a man's having a handsome address, which is the result of culture; of a handsome horse or dog, which implies well proportioned limbs; of a handsome face, to which, among other qualities, the idea of proportion and a graceful contour are essential; of a handsome tree, and a handsome house or villa. So, from this idea of proportion or suitableness, we have, with a different application, the expressions, a handsome fortune, a handsome offer.

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Handsome

HAND'SOME, adjective

1. Properly, dexterous; ready; convenient.

For a thief it is so handsome as it may seem it was first invented for him.

This sense is either from the original meaning of hand, or from the use of the hand, or rather of the right hand. In this sense the word is still used. We say of a well fought combat and victory, it is a handsome affair, an affair well performed, done with dexterity or skill. [See Handy.]

2. Moderately beautiful, as the person or other thing; well made; having symmetry of parts; well formed. It expresses less than beautiful or elegant; as a handsome woman or man; she has a handsome person or face. So we say, a handsome house; a handsome type.

3. Graceful in manner; marked with propriety and ease; as a handsome address.

4. Ample; large; as handsome fortune.

5. Neat; correct; moderately elegant; as a handsome style or composition.

6. Liberal; generous; as a handsome present.

The applications of this word in popular language are various and somewhat indefinite. In general, when applied to things, it imports that the form is agreeable to the eye, or to just taste; and when applied to manner, it conveys the idea of suitableness or propriety with grace.

HAND'SOME, as a verb, to render neat or beautiful, is not an authorized word.

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Word of the Day

importance

IMPORT'ANCE, n.

1. Weight; consequence; a bearing on some interest; that quality of any thing by which it may affect a measure, interest or result. The education of youth is of great importance to a free government. A religious education is of infinite importance to every human being.

2. Weight or consequence in the scale of being.

Thy own importance know.

Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.

3. Weight or consequence in self-estimation.

He believes himself a man of importance.

4. Thing implied; matter; subject; importunity. [In these senses, obsolete.]

Random Word

multijugous

MULTIJU'GOUS, a. [L. multus, many, and jugum, a yoke, a pair.]

Consisting of many pairs.

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