hearsome

English

Alternative forms

• hearsum, hersum (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English hersum, ihersum, from Old English hīersum, ġehīersum (“obedient”), from Proto-West Germanic *hauʀisam, *gahauʀisam, equivalent to hear +‎ -some. Cognate with West Frisian hearsum (“obedient”), Dutch gehoorzaam (“obedient, dutiful, law-abiding”), Low German horzaam, hursam (“obedient”), German gehorsam (“obedient, submissive, subdued”), Swedish hörsam (“obedient”).

Adjective

hearsome (comparative more hearsome, superlative most hearsome)

1. (rare) Ready to hear; obedient; compliant; dutiful; devout.
   • 1863, Henry Mayhew, The boyhood of Martin Luther:

     " […] Thou dost like a hearsome wife, thou dost ever say."

   • 1880, Joseph Angus, The handbook of specimens of English literature:

     In that he mis-bade (ruled) his monks in many things and the monks meant it lovingly to him and bade him that he should hold (treat) them rightly and love them and they would be faithful to him and hearsome (obedient).

Derived terms

• hearsomeness