Apedia

Word Fulsome Positive Century Sense Full Sum Adjective Effusive

Front fulsome \FULL-sum\
Back adjective
1. Effusive; lavish.
2. Excessive to the point of being offensive.

[Does the word fulsome have a positive connotation or negative? Depends on whom you ask. The word started out in mid 13th century as a straightforward, unambiguous word to describe abundance. By the 17th century, it had acquired a deprecatory sense, as in the second sense listed above. Then, again, it went around the bend and in the 20th century the positive sense of the word become more common. Language purists continue to stick with the second sense, while others use the word in its first sense. What to do? Avoid it, unless context is clear, as in the two usage examples below.]

"Dacres offered Hull fulsome compliments on the courage and performance of his men." - Ian W. Toll; Blood Brothers; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 4, 2006.

"One tires of the fulsome endorsement, the blizzard of exclamation points, the arch locutions." - Daniel Aaron; Belle du Jour; The New Republic (Washington, DC); Feb 2, 1998. 

Tags: priorityhigh

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