handsome

hand-some · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    (Of a man) Good-looking; having an attractive face and figure.

  2. 2.

    (Of a woman) Striking and dignified rather than conventionally pretty.

  3. 3.

    (Of a thing) Well-made, imposing, or aesthetically pleasing.

  4. 4.

    (Of an amount) Generous; substantial.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    handsome is as handsome does — Character matters more than appearance
  • •
    a handsome sum — A large amount of money

Related words

Antonyms: plain, ugly, unattractive
See also: attractive, beautiful, good-looking
Synonyms: attractive, fine-looking, good-looking, striking

Etymology

From Middle English handsom, originally meaning "easy to handle" or "apt," from hand + -som (suffix meaning "characterized by"). The sense evolved from "convenient" to "suitable" to "good-looking" by the late 16th century.