lovesome

English

Alternative forms

• loosome (dialectal)
• lossom (dialectal)

Etymology

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

Adjective

lovesome (comparative more lovesome, superlative most lovesome)

1. Worthy of love; having qualities that inspire love; lovable. [from 10th c.]
2. (now rare, chiefly Ireland) Affectionate; friendly. [from 10th c.]
3. Lovable on account of beauty; lovely, beautiful. [from 12th c.]

   A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!

   • 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:

     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;

   • 1893, Thomas Edward Brown, My Garden:
4. (now rare) Amorous; showing or feeling love. [from 16th c.]
   • 1790 March 18, Hester Thrale Piozzi, Thraliana:

     [T]he Lady seems Lovesome, & I fancy lends him Money from Time to Time.

Synonyms

• affectionate

Antonyms

• hatesome

Derived terms

• lovesomehead
• lovesomeness
• lovesomely

Middle English

Adjective

lovesome

1. Alternative form of lovesom