healthy
UK[ˈhelθi]US[ˈhelθi]
adj
in good physical or mental condition; possessing good health.
adj
indicating or promoting good health.
adj
substantial or satisfactory in amount, size, or degree.
Morpheme Breakdown
health
y
health
state of being well
y
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
the word 'healthy' is a straightforward english formation built upon the noun 'health'. the core noun 'health' itself originates from the old english 'hǣlþ', which is derived from the proto-germanic 'hailithō', a state of being whole or sound. this concept of wholeness is deeply rooted in the proto-indo-european base 'kailo-', meaning whole, uninjured, or of good omen. the addition of the productive adjectival suffix '-y' in middle english directly transformed the abstract noun into a descriptor, creating a word that literally means 'characterized by or full of health', a logical and transparent evolution from the ancient idea of completeness to the modern notion of physical and mental well-being.
Analysis
Structure: health (state of being well) + y (adjective-forming suffix)
- health: from old english 'hǣlþ', meaning 'wholeness, a being whole, sound or well'. of germanic origin; related to 'whole'.
- y: a native english suffix used to form adjectives meaning 'characterized by or inclined to'.
Examples
she maintains a healthy diet and exercises regularly.
the company reported a healthy profit this quarter.
it's important to have a healthy balance between work and leisure.