It comes from the Old French word "bel" meaning "beautiful," which in turn comes from the Latin word "bellus".
"Bellus" was used to describe things that were pleasing to the eye, handsome, or attractive. It's likely that this word itself was related to the Latin word "bellum" meaning "war" or "beautiful".
This connection may seem strange, but it's thought that "bellum" originally referred to a striking or impressive appearance, which could apply to both warriors and things of beauty.
Over time, the meaning of "bellus" shifted to focus solely on aesthetic appeal. When the word entered English, it was combined with the suffix "-ful", meaning "full of" or "characterized by". This created the word "beautiful" which we use today to describe something that is visually pleasing and evokes a sense of admiration.
So, the next time you see something beautiful, remember its journey through time and how it evolved from a word originally associated with war to the one we use to express aesthetic appreciation!