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handsome

/ˈhæn.səm/
Meanings
  • adjective

    Adjective used to describe a person who is attractive and physically appealing.

    - "He is a handsome man with a charming smile."
    - "The handsome prince rode into the village on his white horse."
Pronunciation
  1. /ˈhæn.səm/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9021972"
  2. /ˈhæn.səm/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1648256"
Synonyms

hefty , substantial , good-looking , pretty
Rhymes
Words rhyming with handsome
charming , arming , harmonizing , swarming
Variants
List of all variants of handsome that leads to same result
handsome , handsomely , handsomeness , handsomenesses , handsomer , handsomest
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'handsome' meaning 'generous, kind, pleasing to the eye'. Derived from 'hand' and 'sum' meaning 'some, a little'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'handsome' was used more frequently in the English language during the 18th and 19th centuries.

  2. In some cultures, it is considered impolite to directly compliment someone on their appearance, so instead, the term 'handsome' can be used as a more subtle way to express admiration.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. attractiveness: A quality that makes a person or thing appealing to others.

  2. beauty: A combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. He was a "handsome" man, in a big-screen way, with the deep-set eyes and boyish smile and even the lumpy, interesting complexion of a Harrison Ford or a Robert Redford.

    - Adam Gopnik,{it}New Yorker{/it},10 May 2004

  2. An Alexandrian statue of a ruggedly "handsome" man with gaunt features like Caesar's exploits the translucent glow of large-grained marble from the distant Greek island of Thasos, combining Roman attention to the texture of aging skin with the abstract elegance of Egyptian-style almond eyes and chiseled cheekbones.

    - Ingrid D. Rowland,{it}New Republic{/it},1 & 8 Apr. 2002

  3. With bonds and utility stocks under seige, many people who depend on these traditional income investments are taking a new look at {it}real estate investment trusts{/it}. What they're finding is that "REITs" generate "handsome" dividend yields of 6% or more while offering the possibility of capital gains. That's not bad at a time when 10-year Treasury notes, which currently yield about 7%, come with the worry that rising interest rates will cause their value to plummet.

    - Lynn Asinof,{it}Wall Street Journal{/it},3 June 1994

  4. The Galaxy's first stop, St. Lucia's capital city of Castries, has been destroyed by so many fires that travel writers dismiss it as holding little interest. There I came upon a "handsome" three-story brick building that had clearly withstood the city's century of conflagrations. It was, of all things, a Carnegie Library, built by that American millionaire's beneficence in 1916.

    - Carla Davidson,{it}American Heritage{/it},November 1999
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the term 'handsome' has been used to describe physically attractive characters in various genres such as romance, adventure, and mystery novels. In art, handsome men have been depicted as idealized figures in paintings and sculptures. In music, the term has been used as a lyric in songs to describe a desirable partner.

How to Memorize "handsome"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a person who is physically attractive and exudes confidence and charm. Visualize their features, such as a chiseled jawline, piercing eyes, and a well-built physique.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'handsome' with words like 'attractive', 'charming', 'handsome-looking', 'good-looking', 'pleasing to the eye'.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic phrase such as 'Handsome is a handsome name' or 'How Attractive, Such a Man' to help remember the meaning of the word.

Memorize "handsome" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize handsome is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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