"holsom" meaning in Middle English

See holsom in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈhɔːlsum/, /ˈhɔlsum/, /ˈhaːlsum/ [Northern], /ˈhalsum/ [Northern]
Etymology: Likely either inherited from Old English *hālsum or a calque of Old Norse heilsamr; in either case, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz and equivalent to hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”). Etymology templates: {{yesno|1|i|I}} i, {{glossary|inherited}} inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|*hālsum|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English *hālsum, {{inh+|enm|ang|*hālsum|nocap=1}} inherited from Old English *hālsum, {{calque|enm|non|heilsamr|nocap=1}} calque of Old Norse heilsamr, {{der|enm|gem-pro|*hailasamaz}} Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz, {{af|enm|hol|-som|id1=whole|t1=whole, healthy|t2=-some}} hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”) Head templates: {{head|enm|adjective|plural and weak singular|holsome||{{{2}}}||{{{comp2}}}||{{{3}}}||{{{sup2}}}|f3l=|f5l=|head=}} holsom (plural and weak singular holsome), {{enm-adj|holsome}} holsom (plural and weak singular holsome) Forms: holsome [plural], holsome [singular, weak], holsum [alternative], halsum [alternative, Early-Middle-English], halsumm [alternative, Early-Middle-English], holsome [alternative, Late-Middle-English], holsomme [alternative, Late-Middle-English], hoolsom [alternative, Late-Middle-English], hoolsome [alternative, Late-Middle-English], halesome [alternative, Northern], halesum [alternative, Northern], halsom [alternative, Northern]
  1. Healthful, salubrious; providing health.
    Sense id: en-holsom-enm-adj-H2ayd5Kk Categories (other): Middle English terms suffixed with -som, Health Disambiguation of Middle English terms suffixed with -som: 17 43 40 Disambiguation of Health: 100 0 0
  2. Beneficial, advantageous; bestowing gain.
    Sense id: en-holsom-enm-adj-j-wHg8fX Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Middle English terms suffixed with -som, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 14 54 33 Disambiguation of Middle English terms suffixed with -som: 17 43 40 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 20 51 29 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 28 42 31
  3. Pleasing, nice; giving enjoyment.
    Sense id: en-holsom-enm-adj-QFCFXWqt Categories (other): Middle English terms suffixed with -som Disambiguation of Middle English terms suffixed with -som: 17 43 40

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "raw_tags": [
        "obsolete holesome"
      ],
      "word": "wholesome"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "hailsome"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "halesome"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "halsum"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "hailsome"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "halesome"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "hailsum"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "*hālsum",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English *hālsum",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "*hālsum",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English *hālsum",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "non",
        "3": "heilsamr",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "calque of Old Norse heilsamr",
      "name": "calque"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*hailasamaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "hol",
        "3": "-som",
        "id1": "whole",
        "t1": "whole, healthy",
        "t2": "-some"
      },
      "expansion": "hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”)",
      "name": "af"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Likely either inherited from Old English *hālsum or a calque of Old Norse heilsamr; in either case, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz and equivalent to hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsumm",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsomme",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hoolsom",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hoolsome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halesome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halesum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsom",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "10": "{{{3}}}",
        "11": "",
        "12": "{{{sup2}}}",
        "2": "adjective",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "holsome",
        "5": "",
        "6": "{{{2}}}",
        "7": "",
        "8": "{{{comp2}}}",
        "9": "",
        "f3l": "",
        "f5l": "",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "holsom (plural and weak singular holsome)",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "holsome"
      },
      "expansion": "holsom (plural and weak singular holsome)",
      "name": "enm-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "17 43 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms suffixed with -som",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "100 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Health",
          "orig": "enm:Health",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Healthful, salubrious; providing health."
      ],
      "id": "en-holsom-enm-adj-H2ayd5Kk",
      "links": [
        [
          "Healthful",
          "healthful"
        ],
        [
          "salubrious",
          "salubrious"
        ],
        [
          "health",
          "health"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "14 54 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "17 43 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms suffixed with -som",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 51 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 42 31",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’",
          "roman": "‘And ther-as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples that many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been; and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable.’",
          "text": "late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 15, line 2285",
          "translation": "‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Beneficial, advantageous; bestowing gain."
      ],
      "id": "en-holsom-enm-adj-j-wHg8fX",
      "links": [
        [
          "Beneficial",
          "beneficial"
        ],
        [
          "advantageous",
          "advantageous"
        ],
        [
          "gain",
          "gain"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "17 43 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms suffixed with -som",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Pleasing, nice; giving enjoyment."
      ],
      "id": "en-holsom-enm-adj-QFCFXWqt",
      "links": [
        [
          "Pleasing",
          "pleasing"
        ],
        [
          "nice",
          "nice"
        ],
        [
          "enjoyment",
          "enjoyment"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhɔːlsum/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhɔlsum/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhaːlsum/",
      "tags": [
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhalsum/",
      "tags": [
        "Northern"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "holsom"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English adjectives",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English terms calqued from Old Norse",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old Norse",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms suffixed with -som",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Health"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "raw_tags": [
        "obsolete holesome"
      ],
      "word": "wholesome"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "hailsome"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "halesome"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "halsum"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "hailsome"
        },
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "halesome"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "hailsum"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "*hālsum",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English *hālsum",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "*hālsum",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English *hālsum",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "non",
        "3": "heilsamr",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "calque of Old Norse heilsamr",
      "name": "calque"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*hailasamaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "hol",
        "3": "-som",
        "id1": "whole",
        "t1": "whole, healthy",
        "t2": "-some"
      },
      "expansion": "hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”)",
      "name": "af"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Likely either inherited from Old English *hālsum or a calque of Old Norse heilsamr; in either case, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hailasamaz and equivalent to hol (“whole, healthy”) + -som (“-some”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsumm",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Early-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "holsomme",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hoolsom",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hoolsome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halesome",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halesum",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halsom",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "10": "{{{3}}}",
        "11": "",
        "12": "{{{sup2}}}",
        "2": "adjective",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "holsome",
        "5": "",
        "6": "{{{2}}}",
        "7": "",
        "8": "{{{comp2}}}",
        "9": "",
        "f3l": "",
        "f5l": "",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "holsom (plural and weak singular holsome)",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "holsome"
      },
      "expansion": "holsom (plural and weak singular holsome)",
      "name": "enm-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Healthful, salubrious; providing health."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Healthful",
          "healthful"
        ],
        [
          "salubrious",
          "salubrious"
        ],
        [
          "health",
          "health"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’",
          "roman": "‘And ther-as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples that many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been; and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable.’",
          "text": "late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 15, line 2285",
          "translation": "‘And whereas you blame all women and their reasons, I shall show you by many examples that many a woman has been very good, and yet are, and their advices very wholesome and beneficial.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Beneficial, advantageous; bestowing gain."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Beneficial",
          "beneficial"
        ],
        [
          "advantageous",
          "advantageous"
        ],
        [
          "gain",
          "gain"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Pleasing, nice; giving enjoyment."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Pleasing",
          "pleasing"
        ],
        [
          "nice",
          "nice"
        ],
        [
          "enjoyment",
          "enjoyment"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhɔːlsum/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhɔlsum/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhaːlsum/",
      "tags": [
        "Northern"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈhalsum/",
      "tags": [
        "Northern"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "holsom"
}

Download raw JSONL data for holsom meaning in Middle English (4.8kB)

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-08-28 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-08-05 using wiktextract (872fc7b and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.