different between buxom vs fulsome

English

Alternative forms

• bucksome

Etymology

From Middle English buxum, buhsum, bucsum (“bendsome, flexible, pliant, obedient”), (also Middle English ibucsum, ibuhsum, possibly from OE past participal form), from Old English b?csum, *b?hsum (“bendsome, pliant, obedient”) (Old English *?eb?hsum), a derivative of Old English b?gan (“to bend, bow”), equivalent to bow +? -some (b?gan +? -sum). Cognate with Scots bowsome (“compliant”), Dutch buigzaam (“flexible, pliant”) (Middle Dutch boochsaem), German biegsam (“flexible, pliant”), derived from Dutch buigen and German biegen, and their older forms, respectively.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?ks?m/

Adjective

buxom (comparative buxomer or more buxom, superlative buxomest or most buxom)

1. (obsolete, archaic, rare) Pliant, obedient, tractable (to) (i.e. easily moved or bent, morally).
2. (obsolete) Submissive, humble, meek (as subsense of 4).
3. (obsolete) Gracious, indulgent, favourable; obliging, amiable, courteous, affable, kindly (as subsense of 1).
4. (obsolete) With infinitive: Easily moved, prone, ready (as subsense of 1).
5. (obsolete, archaic, poetic) Flexible, pliant (arising from sense 1).
6. (obsolete, archaic) Blithe, gladsome, bright, lively, gay (attested after 1).
7. (dated, of a man or woman) Cheerful, happy (possibly as subsense of 6).
8. (dated, chiefly of women) Full of health, vigour, and good temper; well-favoured, plump and comely, 'jolly', comfortable-looking (in person). (arising from sense 6).
9. (of a woman) Having a full, voluptuous figure, especially possessing large breasts (as subsense of 8).

Synonyms

• (having a full, voluptuous figure): bosomy, big-breasted, busty, chesty, curvaceous, curvy, shapely, round, full-throated; see also Thesaurus:voluptuous

Derived terms

• buxomly
• buxomness

Translations

References

• “buxom” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

English

Alternative forms

• fullsome (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English fulsum, equivalent to ful- +? -some. The meaning has evolved from an original positive connotation "abundant" to a neutral "plump" to a negative "overfed". In modern usage, it can take on any of these inflections. See usage note.

The negative sense "offensive, gross; disgusting, sickening" developed secondarily after the 13th century and was influenced by Middle English foul (“foul”). In the 18th century, the word was sometimes even spelled foulsome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?ls?m/

Adjective

fulsome (comparative fulsomer, superlative fulsomest)

1. Offensive to good taste, tactless, overzealous, excessive.
2. Excessively flattering (connoting insincerity).
3. Marked by fullness; abundant, copious.

4. Fully developed; mature.

Usage notes

• Common usage tends toward the negative connotation, and using fulsome in the sense of abundant, copious, or mature may lead to confusion without contextual prompts.

Synonyms

• (offensive): gross
• (abundant, copious): profuse
• (excessively flattering): effusive, unctuous

Derived terms

• fulsomely
• fulsomeness

Translations

References