different between buxom vs wholesome

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

• holesom, holesome, wholsome (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier holesome, from Middle English holsom, holsum, helsum, halsum, from Old English *h?lsum, *h?lsum, from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz, equivalent to whole +? -some. Cognate with Dutch heilzaam, Icelandic heilsamur, Norwegian Nynorsk helsesam, Swedish hälsosam (“wholesome”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?ho?ls?m/

Adjective

wholesome (comparative wholesomer, superlative wholesomest)

1. Promoting good physical health and well-being.
2. Promoting moral and mental well-being.
3. Favourable to morals, religion or prosperity; sensible; conducive to good; salutary; promoting virtue or being virtuous.
4. Marked by wholeness; sound and healthy.

Synonyms

• (promoting health): healthy, healthful, salubrious

Antonyms

• unwholesome

Derived terms

• wholesomely
• wholesomeness

Translations

References

• wholesome in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• wholesome in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.