Dictionary

healthsome en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• hĕlth'səm
• /ˈhɛlθsəm/

Etymology

From health + -some.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Conducive to good health.
   • Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault, To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
   • ‘It is not healthsome always to be eating meaty things.’ 1982, Roald Dahl, “The Bloodbottler”, in The BFG, Puffin, published 2013:
   • A breeze from the north-west chased the blood to healthsome leaping, and caught the breath like an unexpected kiss. 1886, George Gissing, chapter 2, in Demos, volume 2, London: Smith, Elder & Co., page 54:
   • And the generative powers of the world are healthsome, And there is no poison of destruction in them: Nor hath Hades royal dominion upon earth, 1894, Revised Version of the Bible, The Wisdom of Solomon 1:14, For he created all things that they might have being
   • 1544, Peter Betham (translator), The Preceptes of Warre by Jacopo di Porcia, London, Book 1, Section 192 “To kepe thyne armye healthfull,” The health of thyne Armye is mayntayned by exercyse, by healthsome countrie and swete ayers: but chefelye where is plentye and abundaunce of vytayles.

Forms

Deriveds

healthsomeness · unhealthsome

Synonyms

wholesome · salubrious