— healthily , adv. — healthiness , n.
/hel"thee/ , adj., healthier, healthiest .
1. possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality: a healthy body; a healthy mind.
2. pertaining to or characteristic of good health, or a sound and vigorous mind: a healthy appearance; healthy attitudes.
3. conducive to good health; healthful: healthy recreations.
4. prosperous or sound: a healthy business.
5. Informal. fairly large: I bought a healthy number of books.
[ 1545-55; HEALTH + -Y 1 ]
Syn. 1. hale, hearty, robust. 3. nutritious, nourishing. HEALTHY, HEALTHFUL, SALUTARY, WHOLESOME refer to the promotion of health. HEALTHY, while applied esp. to what possesses health, is also applicable to what is conducive to health: a healthy climate; not a healthy place to be. HEALTHFUL is applied chiefly to what is conducive to health: healthful diet or exercise.
SALUTARY suggests something that is conducive to well-being generally, as well as beneficial in preserving or in restoring health: salutary effects; to take salutary measures. It is used also to indicate moral benefit: to have a salutary fear of devious behavior. WHOLESOME has connotations of attractive freshness and purity; it applies to what is good for one, physically, morally, or both: wholesome food; wholesome influences or advice.
Ant. 1. sick.