a. Obs. [ad. L. venust-us, f. Venus VENUS1. Cf. It. and Pg. venusto.] Handsome, beautiful; elegant, graceful; comely in appearance.

1

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, XII. Prol. 87. The variant vestur of the venust vaill.

2

a. 1568.  in Bannatyne MS. (Hunterian Cl.), 672. My bird, my bony ane, my tendir bab venust.

3

1604.  R. Cawdrey, Table Alph., Venuste, faire, beautifull.

4

1657.  Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 673. Amber is a … Rosine flowing from the incisures of a … Venust tree.

5

1663.  Waterhouse, Fort., 187. As the Infancy of Rome was venust, so was its Manhood notably strenuous.

6

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 270. Nor could [they] have ever thought it [supra so Magnificent a Pile] venust enough, whilst they abounded with Pious Benefactors.

7

  Hence † Venustity, † Venustness. Obs.–0

8

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Venustness, Venustity, beautifulness.

9