Fulsome (full-sum) adjective- Unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech. Complimentary or flattery to an excessive degree. Of large size or quantity, generous or abundant. She was almost embarrassingly fulsome in her appreciation.
Origin: Middle English compound of ful "full" + som "some". Sense evolved from "abundant, full" (c.1250) to "plump, well-fed" (c.1350) to "overgrown, overfed" (c. 1642) and thus of language, "offensive to taste or good manners" (1663). Since the 1960s, however, it commonly has been used in its original, favorable sense, especially in fulsome praise.
I think that the course "fulsome" has run is very interesting, don't you? Positive, negative, over the top, then back to positive. It ran from being abundantly satisfied, to Biggest Loser contestant status. It started by almost referring to food, transitioning over time to an almost exclusive speech or behavior description. Anyway, I think we should aspire to let our praise of God, our spouse and our children be fulsome. You can't go too far over board. But "smarmy" is also a synonym, so the balance may be in the sincerity of our praise and appreciation.
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"Folsom" Prison Blues would fall into the homonym category. A totally different meaning.=)
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