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gamesome

gamesome

8.8
Likely to play and tease others in a lively way
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡeɪmsəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : juguetón
  • The puppy's gamesome behavior included jumping around and playfully chasing its tail.

Examples

  • Baudelaire describes not only a poet protecting himself from the blows of unwelcome experience but also the writing process as a gamesome swordplay ("fantasque escrime") between design and chance.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The children were gamesome, running around the park and playing tag together.

  • Some gamesome whites will tell you that they have to plant weeds there; they don't grow naturally; that they import Canada thistles; that they have to send beyond seas for a spile to stop a leak in an oil cask; that pieces of wood in Nantucket.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Her gamesome nature made every family gathering fun and filled with laughter.

Synonyms

playful
vsgamesome
79 1.6

Full of fun and energy and liking jokes or games

is more energetic and often teasing than that light fun
sportive
vsgamesome
  • Literature
1 7.3

Playful and lively, someone enjoys small jokes and games

is more teasing and spirited rather than only frolicking or merrymaking
larky
vsgamesome
  • UK
7.4

Playful and silly in a way that makes people laugh

is more energetic and often shows teasing behaviour rather than just joking
gameful
vsgamesome
  • Specialized
7.2

Having a playful, motivated attitude that makes tasks feel like a fun challenge

focuses more on teasing liveliness than on motivated courage or challenge

How Playful

frolicsome
1 7.6
mischievous
19 3.5
gamesome
  • Archaic
8.8
playful
79 1.6
reserved
3.7
serious
452 1.4

Surface Forms

gamesome positive

Morphology

gamesome = game (transparent) = game + some

The adjective is directly formed from the noun 'game' with the productive suffix '-some' meaning 'characterized by', yielding 'playful'.

Etymology

Gamesome comes from the old English root game, which meant 'play' or 'joy', plus the ending -some, meaning 'full of', like in handsome. So, gamesome means 'full of play' — playful, lively, and fun-loving.