Hefty

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈhɛfti/

Definitions

1. Having a substantial weight or volume, indicating importance or a significant presence, and often suggesting a robust or impactful nature
2. Characterized by a considerable size or mass, conveying a sense of importance or seriousness, and typically implying a powerful or influential effect
3. Having a noticeably large weight or size that gives an impression of bulkiness ; exhibiting strength or influence that commands attention or respect

Etymology: "Hefty" looks like it should be a close cousin of "heavy," but the two words are only distantly related in the sense that both describe weight. The noun "heft" meant "weight" and came from the verb "heave," so the word is essentially a weight-noun with an adjective ending attached. English speakers added the suffix "-y," meaning "having the quality of," to produce an adjective meaning something like "weighty." The word appeared in the 19th century, and it has a German lookalike that tempts people to think they are related. German "heftig" means "vigorous, violent, or intense," and it sounds very close, but the resemblance is apparently coincidental. The German word belongs to a different root family, and the English word did not borrow from it.

Synonyms: heavy, substantial, bulky, massive, large

Antonyms: light, slight, insignificant, small, trivial