handsome

Etymology

From Middle English handsum, hondsom, equivalent to hand + -some. Compare Dutch handzaam, German Low German handsaam. The original sense was ‘easy to handle or use’, hence ‘suitable’ and ‘apt, clever’ (mid 16th century), giving rise to the current appreciatory senses (late 16th century).

adj

1. Having a pleasing appearance, good-looking, attractive, particularly
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
2. Good, appealing, appropriate.
   1. (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. 1808, John Pinkerton, A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World, page 513
      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;" […]. 1911, Farm Chemicals, page 60
   2. Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; appropriate.
      a handsome style
      Easiness and handsome address in writing. 1713, Henry Felton, A Dissertation on Reading the Classics and Forming a Just Style
3. Generous or noble in character.
4. Ample; moderately large.
   a handsome salary
   He […] accumulated a handsome sum of money. 1779, Vicesimus Knox, Essays Moral and Literary
5. (obsolete) Of people and things: dexterous; skillful.

verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To render handsome.