-tē, -ti adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: heft (II) + -y
1. : having considerable weight : quite heavy
a couple of big hefty books
2.
a.
(1) : large or bulky and usually strong : big , rugged
a hefty six-footer — Time
a hefty fellow, in the habit of standing no nonsense from his customers — W.S.Maugham
(2) : exhibiting considerable strength or force : powerful , mighty
struck a hefty blow
b. : having a size or extent that is by no means small or negligible : not insignificant in size
had a hefty hill to climb over
or extent
took a hefty hike
: impressively large : good-sized
a hefty majority — W.H.Whyte
hefty wage increases — Time
paying up a pretty hefty sum for the settlement of certain debts — Claud Cockburn
: imposing
tipped the scales at a hefty 224 pounds — Elizabeth Coatsworth
c. : quite rigorous or demanding by reason of size or extent
received a hefty assignment that will take nearly all their time
a hefty really tough job to do
3. : generous in quantity : abundant , plentiful
a hefty supply of ammunition — Clay Blair
served up a hefty meal
Synonyms: see heavy