handsome

adjective

1. 1

   Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly

   That is one handsome tree you've got there.

   I saw, I confess, some good dancing and some handsome women, which was all my pleasure.

   At the farther end of this great lamp-lit apartment was another doorway closed in with heavy Oriental-looking curtains, quite unlike those that hung before the doors of our own rooms, and here stood two particularly handsome girl mutes, their heads bowed upon their bosoms and their hands crossed in an attitude of humble submission.

   On the opposite side of the street, on the corner, is the city hall, a very handsome building of brick and stone.

2. 2

   Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive Of a man or boy: attractively manly, having a pleasing face and overall effect.

   I was struck dumb. Here was the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life coming out of the surf.

   Scott was a man then who looked like a boy with a face between handsome and pretty. He had very fair wavy hair, a high forehead, excited and friendly eyes and a delicate long-lipped Irish mouth that, on a girl, would have been the mouth of a beauty. His chin was well built and he had good ears and a handsome, almost beautiful, unmarked nose.

3. 3

   Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive Of a woman: statuesque, beautiful in a masculine or otherwise imposing way.

   She was either handsome or her uniform created a flattering effect but—being very nearsighted—he couldn't tell from this distance.

4. 4

   Good, appealing, appropriate.

   City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.

5. 5

   figurativeGood, appealing, appropriate. Of weather, fine, clear and bright.

   Sunday, the sixth, we heaved up our sheet-anchor again, the day beginning with little wind, and continued handsome weather till eight at night, when the wind came to S. S. W. and it fell a snowing.

   The story goes that James Whitcomb Riley, the poet, on a beautiful spring day, in making his way from his home to his office, was accosted by numerous friends on the way who were exclaiming most extravagantly on the beauty of the day. It was "Good morning, Mr. Riley, a fine day;" "Good morning, Mr. Riley, […] a handsome day;" […].

6. 6

   Good, appealing, appropriate. Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.

   a handsome style

   Easiness and handsome address in writing.

   For a few days every morning visit in Highbury included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. “I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill had written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life.”

7. 7

   Generous or noble in character.

   I'm a plain man, Mr. Feverel. Above board with me, and you'll find me handsome.

8. 8

   Ample; moderately large.

   a handsome salary

   He […] accumulated a handsome sum of money.

9. 9

   obsoleteOf people and things: dexterous; skillful.

   That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and handsome to be moved and turned about.

   Laſtly, for a theife it is ſo handſome, as it may ſeem it was firſt invented for him

verb

1. 1

   obsoleteTo render handsome.

Forms

comparative

more handsome, handsomer

superlative

most handsome, handsomest

past tense

handsomed

past participle

handsomed

present participle

handsoming

third person singular

handsomes