handsome

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly

   That is one handsome tree you've got there.

2. 2
   adj

   Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive

   I was struck dumb. Here was the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life coming out of the surf.

3. 3
   adj

   Good, appealing, appropriate.

   City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.

4. 4
   adj

   Generous or noble in character.

   I'm a plain man, Mr. Feverel. Above board with me, and you'll find me handsome.

5. 5
   adj

   Ample; moderately large.

   a handsome salary

6. 6
   adj

   Of people and things: dexterous; skillful.

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

7. 7
   adj

   pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

8. 8
   adj

   given or giving freely

Etymology

From Middle English handsum, hondsom, equivalent to hand + -some. Compare Dutch handzaam, German Low German handsaam. The original sense was ‘easy to handle or use’, hence ‘suitable’ and ‘apt, clever’ (mid 16th century), giving rise to the current appreciatory senses (late 16th century).