adj. and adv. (colloquial, and formerly literary).—Sharp, severe; convenient, fit; neat, graceful; dextrous, skilful, ready; ample, generous, liberal; manageable; in good or proper style; and (in America) grand or beautiful.
1553. T. WILSON, The Arte of Rhetorique, p. 3. Phauorinus the Philosopher (as Gellis telleth the tale) did hit a yong man ouer the Thumbes very HANDSOMELY.
1590. GOLDING, Cæsar, p. 220. They had not so HANDSOME horses.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Titus Andronicus, ii. 3. If we miss to meet him HANDSOMELY.
1596. SPENSER, A View of the Present State of Ireland. For a thief it is so HANDSOME, as it may seem it was first invented by him.
1600. HOLLAND, Livy, p. 255. A light footman’s shield he takes with him, and a Spanish blade by his side, more HANDSOME to fight short and close.
1604. SHAKESPEARE, Winter’s Tale, iv., 3. His garments are rich, but he wears them not HANDSOMELY.
1614. RALEIGH, The History of the World, Bk. III., ch. viii., § 6. Playing their games HANDSOMELY against so nimble a wit.
1712. ADDISON, Spectator, 29 Nov. An almshouse, which I intend to endow very HANDSOMELY.
1778–79. V. KNOX, Essays, 102. A HANDSOME sum of money.
1798. T. GRESHAM, quoted in E. LODGE, Illustrations of British History, i., 220. [He] is very desirous to serve yor Grace … and seems to me to be a very HANDSOME man.
1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 8. He turned on his back HANDSOME.
TO DO THE HANDSOME (or THE HANDSOME THING), verb. phr. (common).—To behave extremely well; to be ‘civil.’
1887. G. M. FENN, This Man’s Wife, ii., 15. Sir Gordon’s ready TO DO THE HANDSOME THING.
HANDSOME IS THAT HANDSOME DOES, phr. (colloquial).—‘Actions, not words, are the test of merit’; also ironically of ill-favoured persons.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum. HANDSOME IS THAT HANDSOME DOES: a proverb frequently cited by ugly women.
HANDSOME-BODIED IN THE FACE, adv. phr. (old).—See quot.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HANDSOME-BODIED MAN IN THE FACE; a jeering commendation of an ugly fellow.
HANDSOME AS A LAST YEAR’S CORPSE, adv. phr. (American).—A sarcastic compliment.
