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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Luf(e)sum, Luifsum, a. Also: luff-, luife- and -some. [ME. luffsum(m, ME. and OE. lufsum, f. OE. lufu Lufe n.¹ Cf. also Luvesum and Lusum.]

1. Worthy of love or admiration; having qualities that inspire love; lovable, admirable, attractive. (Cf. Luf(e)ly a. 2.)(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 9696.
He considered the bricht bewte, … The fare wordis and lufsum lauching Of Fesonas a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 746.
The lord lufsum of lait Ib. 1271. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 283.
I had a lufsummar [M. lustiar] leid, my lust for to slokyn 15.. Dunb. App. x. 21.
Liberall, lufsum and lusty of persoun 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx. 55.
Ȝing, lusty, lufesum, liberall, and large(b) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 13.
Luifsum ladies of langage laureat 1570 Sat. P. xv. 33.
Thow luifsum lark & gay goldspink 1580 Hume Promine 42.
[James VI,] that leidsterne and luifsum lamp of licht a1585 Maitl. Q. lxix. 52.
This plesant plant … The bodye haill wes luifsum lawlines 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Amabilis, luifesome

b. Lovable on account of physical beauty; lovely, beautiful. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 241.
The land wes likand in large and lufsum to call Ib. 1253.
That ryale cumpany Of lordis and ladis, lufsum to lere a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1269.
Sweit sone, … Thy lufsum lippis with ded ar maid full bla 1528 Lynd. Dreme 785.
This lufesum lady Remembrance 1530 Id. Test. Pap. 501.
Of his court throuch Europe sprang the fame Off lustie lordis and lufesum [Pitsc. lowesum] ladyis ȝing 1540 Id. Sat. 280 (B).
Behald my hals, luffsum [Ch. lusum] and lilly quhyte 15.. Dunb. App. x. 3.
Fair lufsum lady, gentill and discret Ib. 37. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 731. 1603 Philotus .

2. a. Loving, friendly, amiable. (Cf. Luf(e)ly a. 1.) ?1438 Alex. ii. 7591.
The King ansuered with lufsum cheir Ib. 3817. a1500 Sir Eger 2146.
[He takes his leave, with lovesome chear Ib. 1998.]

b. Amorous. (Cf. Luf(e)ly a. 3 and Luvely a. c.) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 315.
O lustie lufe, thy lufesome obseruance So ioyous is