Winsomer

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. More pleasing, charming and attractive in a gentle, appealing manner than someone or something else
2. Having a sweeter, more engaging charm that wins people over more than others around them
3. Displaying a more delightful and endearing appeal, especially in manner, looks or disposition

Etymology: "Winsomer" is simply the comparative of "winsome", so the story belongs to its base word. In Old English, "wynsum" meant "joyful, merry, pleasant", and it was built from "wynn", meaning delight or joy, plus the suffix "-some", which makes adjectives meaning "characterised by" or "inclined to" the first element. A winsome thing was, quite literally, one full of joy. The meaning then broadened over the Middle English period, when the word could also describe things that were beautiful, agreeable, or gracious, and even situations that were favourable or propitious. Its modern sense of attractive in a charming, engaging way narrowed that older range toward personal appeal. The comparative "winsomer" follows the usual pattern for adjectives of this length, adding "-er" to mean more winsome. It is a form the base word has taken since it entered the language.

Synonyms: charming, engaging, attractive, appealing, endearing

Antonyms: unattractive, repellent