wholesome

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   sound or exhibiting soundness in body or mind

   Exercise develops wholesome appetites.

2. 2
   adj

   conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being

   Wholesome attitude.

From earlier holesome, from Middle English holsom, holsum, helsum, halsum, from Old English *hālsum, *hǣlsum, from Proto-West Germanic *hailasam, from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz, equivalent to whole + -some or hale (“healthy”) + -some. Cognate with Saterland Frisian heelsoam, Dutch heilzaam, German Low German heelsaam, German heilsam, Icelandic heilsamur, Norwegian Nynorsk helsesam, Swedish hälsosam (“wholesome”).

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