English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From hell +‎ -some.

Adjective edit

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 edit

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.