handsome [ME] The original sense, showing that the root word is *hand, was ‘easy to handle or use’. In the early 16th century this developed to ‘suitable’ and ‘apt, clever, courteous’. The current senses ‘good-looking’ and ‘striking, of fine quality’ followed soon after. In the proverb handsome is as handsome does [L17th] the original reference was to chivalrous or genteel behaviour.