Part 5107

<i>Spenser.</i>

<cs><col>Handsel Monday</col>, <cd>the first Monday of the new year, when <i>handsels<i> or presents are given to servants, children, etc.</cd></cs>

<h1>Handsel</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"sel</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Handseled</er> &or; <er>Handseled</er> <tt>(<?/)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Handseling</er> &or; <er>Handselling</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Written also <ets>hansel</ets>.]</ety> <ety>[OE <ets>handsellen</ets>, <ets>hansellen</ets>;cf. Isel. <ets>hadsala</ets>, <ets>handselja</ets>. See <er>Handsel</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To give a handsel to.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally.</def>

<blockquote>No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath <b>handseled</b> it with prayer. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Handsome</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"some</hw> <tt>(?; 277)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Handsomer</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Handsomest</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[<ets>Hand</ets> + <ets>-some</ets>. It at first meant, dexterous; cf. D. <ets>handzaam</ets> dexterous, ready, limber, manageable, and E. <ets>handy</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient; -- applied to things as persons.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and <b>handsome</b> to be moved and turned about. <i>Robynson (Utopia).</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>For a thief it is so <b>handsome</b> as it may seem it was first invented for him. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Agreeable to the eye or to correct taste; having a pleasing appearance or expression; attractive; having symmetry and dignity; comely; -- expressing more than <i>pretty</i>, and less than <i>beautiful</i>; <as>as, a <ex>handsome</ex> man or woman; a <ex>handsome</ex> garment, house, tree, horse.</as></def><-- MW10 treats it as synonymous with beautiful in this sense. -->

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate; <as>as, a <ex>handsome</ex> style, etc</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Easiness and <b>handsome</b> address in writing. <i>Felton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous.</def>

<blockquote><b>Handsome</b> is as <b>handsome</b> does. <i>Old Proverb.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Ample; moderately large.</def>

<blockquote>He . . . accumulated a <i>handsome</i> sum of money. <i>V. Knox.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To do the handsome thing</col>, <cd>to act liberally. <mark>[Colloq.]</mark></cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Handsome</er>, <er>Pretty</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Pretty</i> applies to things comparatively small, which please by their delicacy and grace; as, a <i>pretty</i> girl, a <i>pretty</i> flower, a <i>pretty</i> cottage. <i>Handsome</i> rises higher, and is applied to objects on a larger scale. We admire what is <i>handsome</i>, we are pleased with what is <i>pretty</i>. The word is connected with <i>hand</i>, and has thus acquired the idea of training, cultivation, symmetry, and proportion, which enters so largely into our conception of <i>handsome</i>. Thus Drayton makes mention of <i>handsome</i> players, meaning those, who are well trained; and hence we speak of a man's having a <i>handsome</i> address, which is the result of culture; of a <i>handsome</i> horse or dog, which implies well proportioned limbs; of a <i>handsome</i> face, to which, among other qualities, the idea of proportion and a graceful contour are essential; of a <i>handsome</i> tree, and a <i>handsome</i> house or villa. So, from this idea of proportion or suitableness, we have, with a different application, the expressions, a <i>handsome</i> fortune, a <i>handsome</i> offer.</usage>

<h1>Hadsome</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Had"some</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To render handsome.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Donne</i>

<h1>Handsomely</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"some*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In a handsome manner.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Carefully; in shipshape style.</def>

<h1>Handsomeness</h1> <Xpage=668>

<hw>Hand"some*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being handsome.</def>

<blockquote><b>Handsomeness</b> is the mere animal excellence, beauty the mere imaginative. <i>Hare.</i></blockquote>