fulsome

== English == === Alternative forms === fullsome (archaic) === Etymology === From Middle English fulsom, equivalent to full +‎ -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 === enPR: fo͝ol'səm, IPA(key): /ˈfʊlsəm/ Rhymes: -ʊlsəm Hyphenation: ful‧some === Adjective === fulsome (comparative fulsomer or more fulsome, superlative fulsomest or most fulsome) Offensive to good taste, tactless, overzealous, excessive. Excessively flattering (connoting insincerity). Characterised or marked by fullness; abundant, copious. Fully developed; mature. ==== Usage notes ==== Common modern usage tends toward the positive connotation, though some complain about this, and the use of fulsome in the sense of abundant, copious, or mature without contextual prompts may lead to confusion among readers familiar with the negative sense. Conversely, an intended negative connotation may not be understood by some modern readers. ==== Synonyms ==== (offensive): gross (abundant, copious): profuse (excessively flattering): effusive, unctuous ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== fulsomely fulsomeness ==== Translations ==== === References === == Middle English == === Noun === fulsome alternative form of fulsom