cherubic
UK: tʃɪˈruːbɪk | US: tʃɪˈruːbɪk
adj. resembling or characteristic of a cherub, especially in innocence or plump beauty
adj. having a sweet, innocent, or angelic appearance
The word "cherubic" derives from "cherub," which originates from the Hebrew "kerūb" (כְּרוּב), referring to a winged angelic being in biblical tradition. The suffix "-ic" (from Latin "-icus" via Old French) transforms the noun into an adjective, describing qualities associated with cherubs—typically innocence, softness, or celestial beauty. Over time, "cherubic" evolved to describe human faces or features that evoke the plump, rosy-cheeked imagery of cherubs in Renaissance art.
The baby’s cherubic smile melted everyone’s heart.
Her cherubic cheeks made her look perpetually youthful.
The portrait captured the child’s cherubic innocence perfectly.
He retained a cherubic face well into his teens.
The choir’s cherubic voices echoed through the cathedral.