lithesome

British  

/ ˈlaɪðsəm /

adjective

1. a less common word for lissom

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Etymology

Origin of lithesome

C18: from _lithe + _-some ¹

Explanation

Lithesome describes something that's graceful and flexible, like a ballet dancer or a willow tree bending in the wind. Use the adjective lithesome when you need a delicate word to describe a person or thing that bends and turns easily, whether it's a jaguar in the jungle or a young gymnast on a balance beam. The more common lithe means the same thing, or you could use the words supple or lissome. Lithesome comes from lithe, which is rooted in the Old English liðe, meaning "soft, mild, gentle, or meek."

Related Words

• delicate
• fragile
• frail
• lanky
• lithe
• meager
• narrow
• skinny
• slight
• slim
• svelte
• wiry
• wispy