Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Emitting or manifesting light; luminous; not dark.
  • Having the quality of lightness or buoyancy; light-hearted; cheerful or cheering; gay; airy; sportive.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright.
  • adjective Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Upbeat; cheery; light graceful.
  • adjective Emitting or manifesting light; luminous, radiant.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective carefree and happy and lighthearted
  • adjective moving easily and quickly; nimble

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From light (“not heavy”, adjective) +‎ -some.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From light (noun) +‎ -some.

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Examples

  • What idea is more beguiling than the notion of lightsome spirits, free of time and space and human weakness, hovering between us and all harm?

    TIME.com: Top Stories 2010

  • We see in needle-works and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work, upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work, upon a lightsome ground: judge therefore of the pleasure of the heart, by the pleasure of the eye.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Legal Action and Political Action as a Two-Track Strategy for Opposing Obamacare 2010

  • I could neither laugh with nor at the solemn utterances of men I esteemed ponderous asses; nor could I laugh, nor engage in my old-time lightsome persiflage, with the silly superficial chatterings of women, who, underneath all their silliness and softness, were as primitive, direct, and deadly in their pursuit of biological destiny as the monkeys women were before they shed their furry coats and replaced them with the furs of other animals.

    Chapter 29 2010

  • But what is lightsome and blithe in her, was debonaire in him.

    CHAPTER XVIII 2010

  • We see in needle-works and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work, upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work, upon a lightsome ground: judge therefore of the pleasure of the heart, by the pleasure of the eye.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Legal Action and Political Action as a Two-Track Strategy for Opposing Obamacare 2010

  • Beneath, the scene was open and lightsome, and the robin redbreast was chirping his best, to atone for the absence of all other choristers.

    Saint Ronan's Well 2008

  • “Mony a dainty ane,” said Madge; “and blithely can I sing them, for lightsome sangs make merry gate.”

    The Heart of Mid-Lothian 2007

  • And I dressed me again, and got my armour upon me, and afterward was I in a more lightsome state of the mind; and yet very ready to come again unto my sleep.

    The Night Land 2007

  • Presently, when I had come near to being comfortable, there chanced a lightsome step upon the floor behind me, and, turning, I discovered that Mistress Madison was surveying me with a roguish and somewhat amused air.

    The Boats of the 'Glen Carrig' 2007

  • Sallys, the latent vapour in the earth, the drooping leaves and flowers, the birds and beasts and creeping things, the gardeners to sweep the dewy turf and unfold emerald velvet where the roller passes, the smoke of the great kitchen fire wreathing itself straight and high into the lightsome air.

    Bleak House 2007

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  • Unbarred windows, and a lightsomer apartment, she said, had too cheerful an appearance for her mind.

    Clarissa Harlowe as quoted by Belford, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

    January 9, 2008

  • ...I found there was no prevailing on her to quit it for the people's bedroom, which was neat and lightsome.

    Belford to Lovelace, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

    January 9, 2008

  • "If one only had just a little to eat on such a lightsome day! The sense of the glad morning overwhelmed me; my satisfaction became ill-regulated, and for no definite reason I began to hum joyfully."

    - Knut Hamsun, 'Hunger'.

    July 25, 2009