Winsome

Winsome
Winsome Win"some, a. [Compar. {Winsomer}; superl. {Winsomest}.] [AS. wynsum, fr. wynn joy; akin to OS. wunnia, OHG. wunna, wunni, G. wonne, Goth. wunan to rejoice (in unwunands sad), AS. wunian to dwell. ????. See {Win}, v. t., {Wont}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Cheerful; merry; gay; light-hearted. [1913 Webster]

Misled by ill example, and a winsome nature. --Jeffrey. [1913 Webster]

2. Causing joy or pleasure; gladsome; pleasant. [1913 Webster]

Still plotting how their hungry ear That winsome voice again might hear. --Emerson. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Winsome — is a given name, and may refer to:* Winsome Evans (born 1941), Associate Professor of music at the University of Sydney * Winsome Sears (21st century), member of the Virginia House of Delegates …   Wikipedia

  • winsome — index sapid Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • winsome — (adj.) O.E. wynsum agreeable, pleasant, from wynn pleasure, delight (Cf. Ger. Wonne joy, delight; see WIN (Cf. win)) + sum some. Apparently surviving only in northern English dialect for 400 years until revived 18c. by Hamilton, Burns, and other… …   Etymology dictionary

  • winsome — *sweet, engaging, winning, dulcet Analogous words: see those at WINNING …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • winsome — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ attractive or appealing. DERIVATIVES winsomely adverb winsomeness noun. ORIGIN from an Old English word meaning «joy» …   English terms dictionary

  • winsome — [win′səm] adj. [ME winsum < OE wynsum, pleasant, delightful < wynn, delight, joy (for IE base see WIN) + sum, SOME1] attractive in a sweet, engaging way; charming winsomely adv. winsomeness n …   English World dictionary

  • winsome — [[t]wɪ̱nsəm[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe a person or their actions or behaviour as winsome, you mean that they are attractive and charming. ...a winsome young screen star... She gave him her best winsome smile. Syn: charming …   English dictionary

  • winsome — winning / winsome [adj1] attractive, charming acceptable, adorable, agreeable, alluring, amiable, bewitching, captivating, cute, delectable, delightful, disarming, enchanting, endearing, engaging, fascinating, fetching, gratifying, lovable,… …   New thesaurus

  • winsome — adjective Etymology: Middle English winsum, from Old English wynsum, from wynn joy; akin to Old High German wunna joy, Latin venus desire more at win Date: before 12th century 1. generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • winsome — winsomely, adv. winsomeness, n. /win seuhm/, adj. sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging: a winsome smile. [bef. 900; ME winsom, OE wynsum, equiv. to wyn joy (see WYNN) + sum SOME1] * * * …   Universalium

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