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Handsome A  Adjective B Dialect  Marked Synonyms Handsome 

Title handsome
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
hand·some

 \\ˈhan(t)-səm\\ adjective 
(hand·som·er ; -est)
 ETYMOLOGY  Middle English handsom easy to manipulate
 DATE  1530
1. chiefly dialect : 
appropriate
, 
suitable
2. moderately large : 
sizable
    a painting that commanded a handsome price
3. marked by skill or cleverness : 
adroit
4. marked by graciousness or generosity : 
liberal
    handsome contributions to charity
5. having a pleasing and usually impressive or dignified appearance
Synonyms: see 
beautiful
• hand·some·ly adverb
• hand·some·ness noun
English Etymology
handsome
  c.1400, handsom "easy to handle, ready at hand," from hand (n.) +-some. Sense extended to "fair size, considerable" (1577), then "having fine form, good-looking" (1590). Meaning "generous" (in handsome reward, etc.) first recorded 1690.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
handsome
hand·some / 5hAnsEm / adjective(hand·somer, hand·som·est) 
 HELP  More handsome and most handsome are more common.
   more handsome 和 most handsome 更常见。
1. (of men 男子) attractive
   英俊的;漂亮的;有魅力的
   SYN  
good-looking
 :
   a handsome face 
   英俊的相貌 
   He's the most handsome man I've ever met. 
   他是我见过的最俊美的男子。 
   He was aptly described as 'tall, dark, and handsome'. 
   他被恰如其分地描述为"高大黝黑、相貌堂堂"。 
⇨ note at 
beautiful
 
2. (of women 女子) attractive, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones
   健美的:
   a tall, handsome woman 
   一位高个头的健美女子 
⇨ note at 
beautiful
 
3. beautiful to look at
   美观的;悦目的:
   a handsome horse / house / city 
   漂亮的马/房子/城市 
   The ten of them made a handsome couple.
   这对夫妻男俊女靓。 
4. large in amount or quantity
   数量大的:
   a handsome profit 
   一大笔利润 
   He was elected by a handsome majority (= a lot of people voted for him).
   他以高票当选。 
5. generous
   大方的;慷慨的;气量大的:
   She paid him a handsome compliment. 
   她赞扬了他一番。 
• hand·some·ly adv.:
   a handsomely dressed man 
   穿着潇洒的男子 
   a handsomely produced book 
   印刷精美的书 
   to be paid / rewarded handsomely 
   得到可观的工资/报酬 
• hand·some·ness noun [U] 
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of English


handsome 
adj. 
VERBS be, look | become, grow 

ADV. devastatingly, exceedingly, extraordinarily, extremely, incredibly, strikingly, very, wonderfully He was young and devastatingly handsome. | almost | quite, rather | classically, darkly, elegantly, ruggedly, youthfully his ruggedly handsome features 

PHRASES tall, dark (and) handsome a tall, dark, handsome stranger 

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition
adj. Function: adjective 

1 
Synonyms: 
LIBERAL
 1, bounteous, bountiful, free, freehanded, generous, munificent, openhanded, unsparing 
Contrasted Words: economical, frugal, sparing; scrimpy, skimpy 
2 
Synonyms: 
BEAUTIFUL
, attractive, beauteous, ||bonny, comely, fair, good-looking, lovely, pretty, pulchritudinous 
Related Words: august, majestic, noble, stately; chic, dashing, fashionable, modish, smart, stylish 
Contrasted Words: inelegant, unsightly 
Antonyms: unhandsome
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
hand·some
I. \ˈhan(t)səm, ˈhaan-, ˈhain-\ adjective
(usually -er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English handsom, handsum easy to manipulate, perhaps from (assumed) Middle Dutch handsaem (whence Dutch handzaam), from hand + -saem -some (akin to Old High German -sam)
1. now dialect 
 a. : 
handy
 b. : easy to handle or maneuver : suitable for handling
 c. : conveniently near : ready and at hand
2. chiefly dialect 
 a. : 
appropriate
, 
suitable
 b. : of good quality
  < handsome vegetables >
3. 
 a. : of considerable value or of scope large enough to gratify highly : 
sizable
, 
ample
  < a very considerable, I may say a very handsome, inheritance — Ngaio Marsh >
  < the soil, everywhere of handsome depth and finest quality — Thomas Carlyle >
  < winning the election by a handsome margin >
 b. : marked by or calling for skillful execution : 
adroit
, 
accomplished
, 
apt
  < combining scholarship, imagination, literary flair, practical aptitude and personal gusto in the handsomest proportions — Richard Watts >
4. 
 a. : marked by or given with becoming graciousness, generosity, largess, magnanimity : not sparing : not merely equable or proper
  < handsome contributions to charities >
  < assuredly, the archbishop … leaves something handsome for the servants — George Borrow >
 b. : given to graceful commendation or laudation
  < passed a handsome resolution in my favor — R.M.Lovett >
5. : having an impressive and pleasing appearance:
 a. : attractive, well-proportioned, and good-looking usually in a way suggesting poise, dignity, and strength
  < with reddish brown hair, bright brown eyes, fine forehead, and firm mouth and chin, he was exceptionally handsome — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager >
  < though she had lost long ago her virginal loveliness, she had ripened … into a handsome and fruitful-looking woman — Ellen Glasgow >
 b. : imposing or noticeable through some combination of symmetry, proportion, size, or color
  < a very handsome house with white marble steps … and a delicate silver knocker — Frances Trollope >
  < a very handsome … saddle, quilted on the seat with green plush, garnished with a double row of silver-headed studs — Laurence Sterne >
  < the red lizard, a handsome … form of the common olive-brown newt — American Guide Series: New Hampshire >
Synonyms: see 
beautiful
, 
liberal
II. adverb
(-er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English handsom, from handsom, handsum, adjective
now dialect : 
handsomely
 < handsome is as handsome does >

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