hellsome

English

Alternative forms

• hell-some

Etymology

From hell +‎ -some.

Adjective

hellsome (comparative more hellsome, superlative most hellsome)

1. Marked by hell or hellishness
   • 1903, William Reginald Hodder, The Doubling of Joseph Brereton:

     At last he said, " As I'm the darned idiot that's going to sottle on these two hellsome ranches to please you, and as you're the gaudy spark wot's clarin' west to hide your sorrer in the busy hants of men, I guess the actual cause of your pal's death ain't no funeral o' mine.

   • 2014, Armani Mondragón, Evolving:

     Ab'nisha, the leader of the hellsome pack, knew this bindi.

Adverb

hellsome (comparative more hellsome, superlative most hellsome)

1. (informal, nonstandard) In a hellsome manner; hellishly
   • 2015, Charles Godfrey Leland, Songs of the Sea and Lays of the Land:

     Like an awful alligator / Breathing fire and screeching hell-some, / With a pack of hounds.