English Explanatory Dictionary

homely

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Characteristic of, belonging to, or befitting a home; domestic, cosy.
  2. Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.
  3. On intimate or friendly terms with (someone); familiar; at home (with a person); intimate.
  4. Domestic; tame.
  5. Personal; private.
  6. Friendly; kind; gracious; cordial.
  7. Conservative and family-oriented.
  8. Simple; plain; familiar; unelaborate; unadorned.

Pronunciation

/ˈhəʊmli/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-homely.wav hōmʹlē /ˈhoʊmli/

Word forms

homely homelier more homely homeliest most homely hamely

Etymology

From Middle English homly, hoomly, hamely (“domestic, familiar, plain, unattractive”), from Old English *hāmlīċ (“of the home, domestic”), from Proto-West Germanic *haimalīk (“of or characteristic of home”), equivalent to home + -ly. Cognate with Scots hamely (“familiar, personal, private”), West Frisian heimelik, Dutch heimelijk (“secret, secretive, clandestine”), German heimlich (“secret, secretive, clandestine, undercover”), Danish hemmelig (“secret”), Swedish hemlig (“secret, concealed, privy, covert”), Faroese heimligur (“homelike, homey”), Icelandic heimlegur (“homely; worldly”).

Antonyms

comely

Derived words

homelily homeliness homely as a hedge fence overhomely unhomely

Translations

Czech: útulný Czech: prostý Czech: tuctový Czech: ordinérní German: heimelig Bulgarian: грозноват Latin: invenustus Russian: невзрачный Spanish: mal arrostrado Spanish: mal gestado Thai: บ้านๆ
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