Dictionary

handsomely en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˈhæn(t)səmli/ (General-American)
• audio -
• /ˈhæn(t)s(ə)mli/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From handsome + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).

Meanings

1. Regarding a person's action: in a handsome or good-looking manner.
   • a handsomely brooding man
2. In a manner conforming to accepted standards of behaviour; appropriately, decently, graciously; also (more strongly), generously, magnanimously.
   • I was handsomely praised for my part in stopping the robber.
3. In an elegant or graceful manner; elegantly, gracefully, neatly, nicely.
   • [H]e took Diſpondencie’s Daughter, named Much-afraid, by the Hand, and to dancing they vvent in the Road. […] [T]he Girl vvas to be commended, for ſhe anſvvered the Muſick hanſomely. 1684, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress. From This World to That which is to Come: The Second Part. […], London: […] Nathaniel Ponder […], →OCLC, page 181:
   • VVell, my ſvveet miſtreſs, I'll try hovv handſomely your ladyſhip can caper in the air! 1773, [John Fletcher]; [George Villiers, 2nd] Duke of Buckingham; [David Garrick], The Chances. A Comedy. With Alterations, London: […] T[homas] Becket, […], →OCLC, Act III, scene v, page 44:
   • She can lulle a childe as hãſomly [hansomly] a ſlepe as it were a woman of thirty yere olde: […] 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cclxxxv, verso, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
   • [E]uerie morning after they are ryſen, they folde vp their ſheetes hanſomlie, laying them in the middeſt of the Bed, ⁊ ſo rowle it vp to one ende, couering it with the Quilt, that is their Couerlet all the night time. 1582, Anthonie Munday [i.e., Anthony Munday], “In What Manner Our English Men Passe Away Their Time in the Colledge, the Orders of the House, and Other Thinges to be Regarded”, in The English Romayne Lyfe. Discouering: The Liues of the Englishmen at Roome: […], London: […] John Charlewoode, for Nicholas Ling […], →OCLC, page 21:
   • […] I compoſed a Treatiſe on Education; the firſt Rudiments of vvhich, as I taught, vvere to inſtruct a Child in the Science of coming handſomely into a Room. 1743, Henry Fielding, “A Journey from This World to the Next, &c.”, in Miscellanies, […], volume II, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 215:
4. With an attractive or elegant appearance; attractively, finely, splendidly.
   • to dress handsomely
5. Chiefly regarding speech or writing: cleverly, skilfully.
   • Yea, vvhen Proteſtants object againſt St. Peter’s being at Rome, becauſe St. Paul, in his Epiſtle to the Romans, omitteth to name or ſalute him; The Ieſuite handſomely anſvvers, That Peter vvas then probably from home, employed in Preaching in Britain, and other places. 1655, Thomas Fuller, “I. Centurie.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book I, page 3:
   • Yes, there requireth alſo, that he knowe the nature ⁊ cauſe of the wounde or ſore, and that he can well order his plaiſters and oyntementes, and alſo vſe handſomely the ſaide inſtrumentes. 1533, Thomas Elyot, “The Fourthe Dialogue”, in Of that Knowlage, whiche Maketh a Wise Man. A Disputacion Platonike, London: […] Thomas Berthelet, published p. 1548? (indicated as 1534), →OCLC, signature [Jvii], verso:
6. Regarding an undesirable occurrence (such as defeat or punishment): harshly, severely; (by extension) completely, thoroughly; also, energetically, vigorously.
   • The through Moorgate service has been most handsomely speeded up, and suburban trains in both directions now run non-stop between Kings Cross (Underground) and Elstree. 1960 February, “The Dieselised St. Pancras Suburban Service”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 95:
   • To be sure, he expected eggs as well, and looked from his plate to Bradly's to assure himself that it was not by an oversight that Bradly had omitted to serve him eggs. Still, he tucked in handsomely to bacon and tomato on fried bread, felicitating himself on the considered wisdom of his arrival in the character of guest to Bradly. 1938, Norman Lindsay, chapter VIII, in Age of Consent, London: T[homas] Werner Laurie […], →OCLC, page 76:
7. Especially regarding how a gift is given or money is paid: without holding back; generously, liberally.
   • […] [Ronald] Koeman gets paid handsomely (and more or less the same amount) if he does the job, if he gets fired or if his contract gets renewed. 2021 September 22, Guillem Balagué, “Barcelona: The Toxic Battle Ripping apart a European Giant”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 15 Jun 2024:
8. Without undue haste; carefully, slowly and steadily.
   • Up with the helm, Tom.—Ease off the main sheet, handsomely, my lad—not too much.—Now, take in the slack, afore she jibes; […] 1832, [Frederick Marryat], chapter V, in Newton Forster; or, The Merchant Service. […], volume I, London: James Cochrane and Co., […], →OCLC, page 71:
   • For the cold pain of the joynts. Take a clout dipt in melted vvax, lay it handſomely and as cloſely on as the ſick can endure it for one night, and it vvill cure it. 1658, Tho. Mouffet [i.e., Thomas Muffet, et al.], “The Theater of Insects: Or, Lesser Living Creatures. […]. Chapter VI. Concerning Wax, Bee-glew, Dregs of Wax, Pissoceros, Bees-bread, and of Their Nature and Use.”, in J[ohn] R[owland], transl., The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents: […], revised edition, London: […] E. Cotes, for G[eorge] Sawbridge […], T. Williams […], and T. Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 915:
9. (obsolete) In a convenient manner; conveniently, readily.
10. (obsolete) In a proper manner; properly, suitably.
    • He says very handsomely, in his own excuse, that he does not act for gain; that he indulges an innocent pleasure in it; and that it is better to pass away an evening in this manner, than in gaming and drinking: […] 1711 March 25 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “WEDNESDAY, March 15, 1710–1711”, in The Spectator, number 13; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 146:
    • So handſomely do all things fall in and agree together. 1681, Henry More, “Vision IV. The Vision or Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks Communicated to Daniel by the Angel Gabriel, Chap[ter] 9. Notes upon Vision IV. Ver[se] 1.”, in A Plain and Continued Exposition of the Several Prophecies or Divine Visions of the Prophet Daniel, which have or may Concern the People of God, whether Jew or Christian; […], London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Walter Kettilby, […], →OCLC, page 130:

Forms

Antonyms

cheerly

Synonyms

perfectly · in full · cold · altogether · fittingly · top to tail · soup-to-nuts · lock · wholly · stone-cold · at large · tout à fait · one hundred percent · top to toe · totally · from head to toe · out-and-out · right · absolutely · from aardvark to zymurgy · handsomely · downright · heartily · exhaustively · flat out · from stem to stern · flat-out · entirely · all-out · particularly · in detail · quite · through and through · head to foot · from top to bottom · from top to toe · hook · whole cloth · all the way · head to tail · and sinker · blind · properly · to the core · purely · straight up · head to toe · to the full · stark · to the bone · completely · first and last · and barrel · categorically · whole · utterly · line · stock · outright · plumb · totes · out and out · from soup to nuts · root and branch · fully · soundly · at length · detailly · finally · from A to Z · from the rooter to the tooter · well and truly · cap-a-pie