Middle English Dictionary Entry
winsǒm adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | winsǒm adj. Also winsome & (early) winsum, (SWM) wunsum, wonsom & (early infl. or pl.) winsum(m)e, wunsume, (SWM) wonsome, wnsume, (gen.) winsuman, (dat. fem.) winsumre & (error) wonsun; comp. (early SWM) wnsumre; sup. (early) winsumeste, (SWM) wunsemeste. |
| Etymology | OE wynsum, winsum, wensum; cp. ME win n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. winli adj.
1.
(a) Pleasing to the senses, delightful to see, hear, experience, etc., fair;
(b) pleasant of manner, gracious, agreeable; also, generous, favorably disposed; ?forgiving [quot. a1400]; also, of circumstances, conditions, etc.: favorable, propitious.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)42/31 : Hire clænesta mægeðhad þan clænen mænn geðeodd wære mid gecwemre geferræddene on wynsumre drohtnunge.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)45/28 : He nu todæig þa wynsumeste wununge his leofe moder forgeafe.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)117/28 : Ic…wynsume stæmne ormætes dreames geherde.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)118/13 : Of þan þu gesege þæt mycele liht mid þan wynsume bræðe.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)148/6 : Þes halge fugel is Fenix ȝehaten, wlitiȝ & wynsum.
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)130/10 : Þa synden swyðe wynsume of to þycgene.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)16/24 : He wrohte ðone waterscype to wunsume yrðlande.
- a1200(?OE) Cmb.Hom.(Cmb Ii.1.33)107/195 : Þa wundrode þa weardmen þæs wynsuman leohtes.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)35 : Hit walð me þunchen þet softeste beð and þet wunsemeste þet ic efre ibad.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)44/3 : Þis weater mote iwurðe me wunsum & softe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)622 : Þet lond is swiþe wunsum [Otho: wonsom].
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)4699 : Þane wonsome [Clg: wunliche] borh hii barnde to douste.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5792 : I sal þam bring…In-till a land, a wonsun [read: wonsum] thede, A land rinnand bath honi and milk.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)80.2 : Nimes psalmes and giues timpan, Sautre winsome with harp on-an.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)78 : Feier wes þe wimmon & wunsum hire monnen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)455 : Þer wes moni riche mon þe cuðe lutel reden weðer heom weore wnsumre to faren þe [read: ȝe] to wonien.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)599 : Ofte he custe þat weofed mid wnsume lates.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5970 : Wind heo hæfden wunsum [Otho: wonsom] weder mid þan bezsten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6126 : Heo uerden swiðe warliche mid wunsumme lades.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9491 : Ygærne…þas word seide mid wunsume wurde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11235 : Ardur wes wunsum þer he hafde his iwillen, & he wes wod sturne wið his wiðer-iwinnen.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)78.9 : Helpe vs, god…And winsom [L propitius] to oure sinnes be.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)733 : Scho was woman wynsom to weld, Non heynder haldyn vnder heuyn.