Adjective

(en-adj)

(obsolete, said of things and people) Dexterous; skillful

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(of a man) Visually attractive; pleasant looking.

a handsome' man; a ' handsome garment, house, tree, horse.

(of a woman) Striking, impressive and elegantly proportioned, though not typically beautiful.

Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate.

a handsome style, etc.

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Generous or noble in character

Handsome' is as ' handsome does.

Ample; moderately large.

a handsome salary

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Having a good appearance

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=November 5 , author=Phil Dawkes , title=QPR 2 - 3 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City have lapped up the plaudits this season for a series of handsome wins but manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that his side also learn to grind out results when they do not play well. He now has an example to point to.}}

Adjective

(en-adj)

(dated) Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.

There is none so homely but loves a looking-glass.

* 1958 , , Lolita , Chapter 15

You see, she'' sees herself as a starlet; ''I see her as a sturdy, healthy but decidedly homely kid.

(archaic) Characteristic of or belonging to home; domestic.

On intimate or friendly terms with (someone); familiar; at home (with a person); intimate.

* 1563 , , Chapter on William Thorpe

With all these men I was right homely , and communed with them long and oft.

Domestic; tame.

Personal; private.

Friendly; kind; gracious; cordial.

(archaic) Simple; plain; familiar; unelaborate; unadorned.

* 1731 , , Strephon and Chloe, Lines 211-212

Now Strephon daily entertains / His Chloe in the homeliest strains.

* 2001 , Sydney I. Landau, Dictionaries: The Art and Craft of Lexicography , Cambridge University Press (ISBN 0-521-78512-X), page 167,

There is no simple way to define precisely a complex arrangement of parts, however homely the object may appear to be.