winsome


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win·some

 (wĭn′səm)
adj.
Charming, often in a childlike or naive way.
[Middle English winsum, from Old English wynsum : from wynn, joy; see wen- in Indo-European roots + -sum, characterized by; see -some1.]
win′some·ly adv.
win′some·ness n.
Word History: The win- in winsome comes from the Indo-European root *wen-, meaning "to desire, strive for," and has a number of descendants in the Germanic languages. One was the prehistoric Germanic noun *wini- meaning "friend" (literally, "one who desires or loves" someone else), which became wine in Old English and is preserved in such names as Winfred, "friend of peace," and Edwin, "friend of (family) possessions." A different form of the root with a different suffix became Old English wynn, "pleasure, joy," preserved in winsome. Finally, the verb win itself is from this root; its meaning is an extension of the sense "to strive for," namely, "to strive for with success, be victorious." Outside of the Germanic branch of Indo-European, we see the root, for example, in Latin venus or Venus "love, the goddess of love," and the verb venerāre, "to worship," the source of English venerate.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

winsome

(ˈwɪnsəm)
adj
charming; winning; engaging: a winsome smile.
[Old English wynsum, from wynn joy (related to Old High German wunnia, German Wonne) + -sum -some1]
ˈwinsomely adv
ˈwinsomeness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

win•some

(ˈwɪn səm)

adj.
sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging: a winsome smile.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English wynsum=wyn joy (see wynn) + -sum -some1]
win′some•ly, adv.
win′some•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.winsome - charming in a childlike or naive way
attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm; "a remarkably attractive young man"; "an attractive personality"; "attractive clothes"; "a book with attractive illustrations"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

winsome

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

winsome

adjective
Pleasing to the eye or mind:
attractive, bewitching, enchanting, engaging, enticing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, lovely, prepossessing, pretty, sweet, taking, tempting, winning.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

winsome

[ˈwɪnsəm] ADJ → encantador, cautivador
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

winsome

[ˈwɪnsəm] adj [personality, child, smile, charm] → avenant(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

winsome

adj child, lass → reizend, sympathisch; ways, smile → gewinnend, einnehmend
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

winsome

[ˈwɪnsəm] adj → accattivante
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
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And now you shall listen to the Winsome Waggish Warblers, who have often cheered me in my moments of anguish."
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For sleeping man, 'twas hard to choose between such winsome days and such seducing nights.
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God give that such may be the case, for of all the winsome and affectionate little fellows I have ever seen, not even excepting mine own dear son, the little Richard was the most to be beloved.
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"And," we are told, "his songs and his verse were so winsome to hear, that his teachers themselves wrote and learned from his mouth."
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It is now two months since our guests left us to the enjoyment of each other's society; and I have had nine weeks' experience of this new phase of conjugal life - two persons living together, as master and mistress of the house, and father and mother of a winsome, merry little child, with the mutual understanding that there is no love, friendship, or sympathy between them.
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That glad, happy air, that winsome sky, did at last stroke and caress him; the step-mother world, so long cruel -- forbidding --now threw affectionate arms round his stubborn neck, and did seem to joyously sob over him, as if over one, that however wilful and erring, she could yet find it in her heart to save and to bless.
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It was just a little girl's face, very bright and very winsome, and over there we were lonely, and it got to mean a good deal to both of us.
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Whatever thrifty, hard-working farmer folk might think of gay, Bohemian Blair Stanley in his absence, in his presence even they liked him, by the grace of some winsome, lovable quality in the soul of him.
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I shall never forget the debt I owe you," and, with a most winsome smile that displayed a row of perfect teeth, the girl curtsied to Tarzan, who bade her good night and made his way on deck.
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At his cry of rapture the other lads looked up and smiled involuntarily, for the little kinswoman standing there above was a winsome sight with her shy, soft eyes, bright hair, and laughing face.
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There was something so sweet and winsome about her that you had to love her, that was all.
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May I never see Chester Bridge again, if she is not a right winsome lass!"
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