Fulsome
[FUL-səm]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Middle English, unknown
1.
Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
2.
Of large size or quantity; generous or abundant.
Examples of Fulsome in a sentence
"Her fulsome words made Jimmy both embarrassed and grateful."
"They brought home a fulsome supply of apples from the orchard."
About Fulsome
This adjective comes from Middle English, and developed from the words "full" ("filled to the limit") and "some" ("a group of a particular number").
Did you Know?
While "fulsome" is a homonym (a word with multiple meanings for the same spelling/pronunciation), its earliest definition of "generous or abundant" is seen by some lexicographers as incorrect. The most commonly used definition today is that of "excessively complimentary or flattering," but some people still use that of "abundant," which can lead to ambiguity. The phrase "fulsome praise" could mean either a genuine compliment or be interpreted as an insult, depending on the definition.
