/ ˈhænsəm; NAmE / adjective ( hand·somer , hand·som·est )
HELP NOTE : more handsome and most handsome are more common
1.
( of men ) attractive
SYN good-looking :
a handsome face
He's the most handsome man I've ever met.
He was aptly described as ' tall, dark, and handsome '.
➡ note at beautiful
2.
( of women ) attractive, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones :
a tall, handsome woman
➡ note at beautiful
3.
beautiful to look at :
a handsome horse / house / city
The two of them made a handsome couple .
4.
large in amount or quantity :
a handsome profit
He was elected by a handsome majority (= a lot of people voted for him) .
5.
generous :
She paid him a handsome compliment.
► hand·some·ly adverb :
a handsomely dressed man
a handsomely produced book
to be paid / rewarded handsomely
► hand·some·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from hand + -some . The original sense was easy to handle or use , hence suitable and apt, clever (mid 16th cent.), giving rise to the current appreciatory senses (late 16th cent.).