bonnie en · ADJ · etymology 1
Etymology
From Middle English *bonie (attested only rarely as bon, boun), probably from Old French bon, feminine bonne (“good”), from Latin bonus (“good”). See bounty, and compare bonus, boon.
Meanings
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Merry; happy.
Be you blithe and bonny Converting all your sounds of woe Into Hey nonny, nonny.
1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
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(Geordie, Scotland) Beautiful; pretty; attractive; handsome.
O once I lov'd a bonnie lass, / Aye, and I love her still
1774, “Handsome Nell”, Robert Burns (lyrics), published 1803:
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(Geordie, Scotland) Fine, good (often used ironically).
My bonnie friend, come over here.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bonny | alternative | lexicographic | |
| most bonnie | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more bonnie | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| bonniest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| bonnier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| bonie | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
frolicsome · gay · blithe · cheerful
Translations (11)
pl wesoły (Gay; merry; frolicsome; cheerful; blithe) · sv ljuv (Gay; merry; frolicsome; cheerful; blithe) · ga slachtmhar (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · da frejdig (Gay; merry; frolicsome; cheerful; blithe) · ga dóighiúil (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · pl piękny (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · ru ми́лый (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · cs hezký (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · ru краси́вый (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · ga dathúil (Beautiful; pretty; attractive) · cs pěkný (Beautiful; pretty; attractive)