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wholesome

 - 3 dictionary results

whole⋅some

  [hohl-suhm]
Use wholesome in a Sentence
–adjective
1. conducive to moral or general well-being; salutary; beneficial: wholesome recreation; wholesome environment.
2. conducive to bodily health; healthful; salubrious: wholesome food; wholesome air; wholesome exercise.
3. suggestive of physical or moral health, esp. in appearance.
4. healthy or sound.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME ho(o)lsom (see whole, -some 1 ); c. OHG heilsam, ON heilsamr

Related forms:
whole⋅some⋅ly, adverb
whole⋅some⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. helpful; good. 2. nourishing, nutritious. 2, 3. See healthy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wholesome
whole·some   (hōl'səm)   
adj.   whole·som·er, whole·som·est

  1. Conducive to sound health or well-being; salutary: simple, wholesome food; a wholesome climate.

  2. Promoting mental, moral, or social health: wholesome entertainment.

  3. Sound; healthy. See Synonyms at healthy.


[Middle English holsom, from Old English *hālsum; see kailo- in Indo-European roots.]
whole'some·ly adv., whole'some·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

wholesome 
c.1200, from whole (in the "healthy" sense) + -some. Originally in moral senses; physical sense first attested c.1374.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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