Fulsome is one of the most frequently misused words in English. The sense that is usually accorded it--of being copious or lavish or unstinting--is almost the opposite of the word's dictionary meaning. Fulsome is related to foul and means odious or overfull, offensively insincere. "Fulsome praise", properly used, isn't a lavish tribute; it is unctous and insincere toadying.
On the back cover of the book is a blurb from the Guardian newspaper that says that this edition...
Deserves fulsome praise.
Hmm.
