Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHOLE-SOME, a. [whole and some; G. heilsam.]

1. Tending to promote health; favoring health; salubrious; as, wholesome air or diet; a wholesome climate.
2. Sound; contributing to the health of the mind; favorable to morals, religion or prosperity; as, wholesome advice; wholesome doctrines; wholesome truths.
3. Useful; salutary; conducive to public happiness, virtue or peace; as, a wholesome law.
4. That utters sound words. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. – Prov. xv.
5. Kindly; pleasing; as, a wholesome answer. – Shak. Wholesome ship, a ship that will try, hull and ride well. – Dict.