Word Study
winsome
CIDE DICTIONARY
winsome, a. [AS. wynsum, fr. wynn joy; akin to OS. wunnia, OHG. wunna, wunni, G. wonne, Goth. wunan to rejoice (in unwunands sad), AS. wunian to dwell. . See Win, v. t. , Wont, a. ].
- Cheerful; merry; gay; light-hearted. [1913 Webster]"Misled by ill example, and a winsome nature." [1913 Webster]
- Causing joy or pleasure; gladsome; pleasant. [1913 Webster]"Still plotting how their hungry ear
That winsome voice again might hear." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
winsome, adj. (of a person, looks, or manner) winning, attractive, engaging.
Derivative
winsomely adv. winsomeness n.
Etymology
OE wynsum f. wyn JOY + -SOME(1)
THESAURUS
winsome
admirable, adorable, alluring, angelic, appealing, appetizing, attractive, beaming, beguiling, bewitching, blandishing, blithe, blithesome, bright, bright and sunny, cajoling, captivating, caressable, catching, charismatic, charming, cheerful, cheery, coaxing, come-hither, coquettish, cuddlesome, delightful, dulcet, elated, enchanting, engaging, enravishing, enthralling, enticing, entrancing, eupeptic, euphoric, exalted, exciting, exhilarated, exotic, exquisite, fascinating, fetching, flirtatious, flushed, genial, glad, gladsome, glamorous, glowing, happy, heart-robbing, high, hopeful, hypnotic, in good spirits, in high spirits, interesting, intriguing, inviting, irrepressible, irresistible, kissable, laughing, likable, lovable, lovely, lovesome, luxurious, mesmeric, mouth-watering, of good cheer, optimistic, piquant, pleasant, prepossessing, provocative, provoquant, radiant, ravishing, riant, rosy, sanguine, sanguineous, seducing, seductive, sensuous, seraphic, siren, sirenic, smiling, sparkling, spellbinding, spellful, sunny, sweet, taking, tantalizing, teasing, tempting, thrilling, tickling, titillating, titillative, voluptuous, winning, witchingROGET THESAURUS
winsome
Pleasurableness
N pleasurableness, pleasantness, agreeableness, pleasure giving, jucundity, delectability, amusement, attraction, attractiveness, attractability, invitingness, harm, fascination, enchantment, witchery, seduction, winning ways, amenity, amiability, winsomeness, loveliness, sunny side, bright side, sweets, goodness, manna in the wilderness, land flowing with milk and honey, bittersweet, fair weather, treat, regale, dainty, titbit, tidbit, nuts, sauce piquante, causing pleasure, laetificant, pleasure-giving, pleasing, pleasant, pleasurable, agreeable, grateful, gratifying, leef, lief, acceptable, welcome, welcome as the roses in May, welcomed, favorite, to one's taste, to one's mind, to one's liking, satisfactory, refreshing, comfortable, cordial, genial, glad, gladsome, sweet, delectable, nice, dainty, delicate, delicious, dulcet, luscious, palatable, luxurious, voluptuous, sensual, attractive, inviting, prepossessing, engaging, winning, winsome, taking, fascinating, captivating, killing, seducing, seductive, heart-robbing, alluring, enticing, appetizing, cheering, bewitching, enchanting, entrancing, enravishing, charming, delightful, felicitous, exquisite, lovely, ravishing, rapturous, heartfelt, thrilling, ecstatic, beatic, beatific, seraphic, empyrean, elysian, palmy, halcyon, Saturnian, decies repetita placebit, charms strike the sight but merit wins the soul, sweetness and light, beauty is only skin deep.Cheerfulness
N cheerfulness, geniality, gayety, l'allegro, cheer, good humor, spirits, high spirits, animal spirits, flow of spirits, glee, high glee, light heart, sunshine of the mind, sunshine of the breast, gaiete de coeur, bon naturel, liveliness, life, alacrity, vivacity, animation, allegresse, jocundity, joviality, jollity, levity, jocularity, mirth, merriment, hilarity, exhilaration, laughter, merrymaking, heyday, rejoicing, marriage bell, nepenthe, Euphrosyne, sweet forgetfulness, optimism, self complacency, hedonics, hedonism, cheerful, happy, cheery, cheerly, of good cheer, smiling, blithe, in spirits, in good spirits, breezy, bully, chipper, in high spirits, in high feather, happy as the day is long, happy as a king, gay as a lark, allegro, debonair, light, lightsome, light hearted, buoyant, debonnaire, bright, free and easy, airy, janty, jaunty, canty, hedonic, riant, sprightly, sprightful, spry, spirited, spiritful, lively, animated, vivacious, brisk as a bee, sparkling, sportive, full of play, full of spirit, all alive, sunny, palmy, hopeful, merry as a cricket, merry as a grig, merry as a marriage bell, joyful, joyous, jocund, jovial, jolly as a thrush, jolly as a sandboy, blithesome, gleeful, gleesome, hilarious, rattling, winsome, bonny, hearty, buxom, playful, playsome, folatre, playful as a kitten, tricksy, frisky, frolicsome, gamesome, jocose, jocular, waggish, mirth loving, laughter-loving, mirthful, rollicking, elate, elated, exulting, jubilant, flushed, rejoicing, cock-a-hoop, cheering, inspiriting, exhilarating, cardiac, cardiacal, pleasing, palmy, cheerfully, Int, never say die!, come!, cheer up!, hurrah!, hence loathed melancholy!, begone dull care!, away with melancholy!, a merry heart goes all the day, as merry as the day is long, ride si sapis.For further exploring for "winsome" in Webster Dictionary Online