Dictionary

lovesome en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• lŭv'səm
• /ˈlʌvsəm/

Etymology

From Middle English lufsom, lufsum, from Old English lufsum (“loving, lovable, pleasant”), equivalent to love + -some.

Meanings

1. Worthy of love; having qualities that inspire love; lovable.
2. (Ireland, archaic) Affectionate; friendly.
3. Lovable on account of beauty; lovely, beautiful.
   • Through all the living Regions dost thou move, And scatter'st, where thou goest, the kindly Seeds of Love: Since then the race of every living thing, Obeys thy pow'r; since nothing new can spring Without thy Warmth, without thy Influence bear, Or beautiful or lovesome can appear, Be thou my Aid: my tuneful Song inspire, And kindle with thy own productive Fire; 1700, John Dryden, “The Beginning of the First Book of Lucretius,”, in Lucretius His Six Books of Epicurean Philosophy:and Manlius His Five Books. Containing a System of the ncient Astronomy and Astrology:
   • A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!
4. (archaic) Amorous; showing or feeling love.
   • [T]he Lady seems Lovesome, & I fancy lends him Money from Time to Time. 1790 March 18, Hester Thrale Piozzi, Thraliana:

Forms

Antonyms

hatesome

Deriveds

lovesomely · lovesomeness · lovesomehead

Synonyms

affectionate