† sightfuladj.
Obsolete.
1. Visible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > [adjective]
i-seyenlyeOE
iseneOE
senec1175
seyelyc1225
visiblea1340
seena1398
sighty1398
seeablea1425
spectablec1440
sightfulc1480
sightly1532
appearingc1550
discernable1561
eyely1561
discoverable1572
spectible1581
observable1589
visive1598
aspectable1612
observant1615
perspicable1621
perspiculative1623
remarkable1623
eyeable1633
visory1633
appearable1651
dignoscible1671
discernible1678
traceable1748
noticeable1753
visual1757
distinguishable1762
c1480 (a1400) St. Katherine 369 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 452 [He] Is a god,..wnsichtfull and sichtfull bedene.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer iii. f. ccclxi Howe was it yt syghtful Manna in deserte to chyldren of Israel was spirytuel meate?
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer Prol. f. cccxxv The vnsene priuytees of god made to vs sightful..in our contemplacion and vnderstondyng.
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. H.h.viiv These vaynes appering..immediatly vnder the skyn, very conspicuous and syghtful.
2. Endowed with sight; seeing. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > [adjective] > having sight
seeinga1398
sightful1594
eyesighted1599
unblinded1611
visive1686
unblind1818
sighted1836
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits v. 59 The vnderstanding groweth more sharpe & sightfull.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits vii. 97 I cannot forgoe to thinke that the reasonable soule, seuered from the body..hath a power sightfull.
1613 G. Chapman Memorable Maske Inns of Court sig. C2 Tis passing miraculous, that your dul and blind worship should so sodainly turne both sightfull, and witfull.
3. Sightly, pleasant to the eye.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective]
faireOE
comelyOE
winlyOE
goodlyOE
hendya1250
hendc1275
quaintc1300
seemlyc1305
tidya1325
avenant1340
honestc1384
sightya1387
properc1390
well beseena1393
queema1400
speciousa1400
featousc1400
parisantc1400
rekenc1400
well-favoureda1438
wellc1450
spectable?a1475
delicatec1480
jollya1500
bonny?a1513
snog1513
viewlyc1536
goodlikec1550
sightly1555
sightful1565
beholdinga1586
eyesome?1587
decent1600
vage1604
prospicuous1605
eyely1614
fashionable1630
well-looking1638
softa1643
fineish1647
well-looked1660
of a good (also ugly, etc.) look1700
likely-looked1709
sonsy1720
smiling1725
aspectable1731
smirkya1758
likely-looking1771
respectable1776
magnificent-looking1790
producible1792
presentable1800
good-looking1804
nice-looking1807
bonnyish1855
spick1882
eyeable1887
aegyo2007
1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. xxi. f. 180 His priest..set forth the buildinges with diuers comely, and sightfull workes.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xvi. 11) The fulnesse of joye is matched ageinste the syghtfull entycements of the worlde.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > [noun]
i-sightc888
seneOE
lightOE
eyesightc1175
sightc1200
rewarda1382
seeingc1390
viewc1390
outwitc1400
starec1400
speculation1471
eyec1475
vision1493
ray1531
visive power1543
sightfulnessa1586
outsight1605
conspectuitya1616
visibility1616
optics1643
rock of eye1890
visuality1923
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xii. sig. X6 Let vs not winke though void of purest sightfulnes.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xii. sig. Hh5 My prayer is Thou mayest loue her that I may see thy sightfulnesse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.c1480