HOMELY Meaning and
Definition
-
Homely is an adjective that has multiple definitions and can be used to describe different aspects or qualities.
1. Homely refers to something plain, unattractive, or lacking in beauty or elegance. This can be used to describe a person's physical appearance, a building's architectural design, or any object that is devoid of visual appeal.
2. Homely also pertains to a warm and comfortable feeling associated with being at home or being in a familiar environment. It signifies a sense of coziness, a welcoming atmosphere, and a feeling of ease or contentment.
3. Homely can also describe someone as unpretentious, down-to-earth, and modest in character or behavior. It suggests that the individual is approachable, easy to relate to, and lacks pretentiousness or arrogance.
4. In British English, homely can be synonymous with "homey" and refers to something that is typically found at home or associated with home life. For instance, home-cooked meals or standard home appliances are considered homely in nature.
It is important to note that the meaning of homely may vary depending on the context and cultural differences. In some regions, homely may primarily connote the second definition, whereas in others, it may emphasize the first definition.
-
• Plain; not handsome; not polished; easy and plain in manners.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for HOMELY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for HOMELY
Etymology of HOMELY
The etymology of the word "homely" traces back to Old English and Old Norse.
In Old English, the word "hāmlīc" (pronounced "ham-lik") was originally used to mean something like "suitable for a home" or "comfortable". It was derived from the Old English word "hām", which meant "home". As time went on, the meaning of "hāmlīc" expanded to include the connotations of being plain, unattractive, or not beautiful, which carried over into Middle English.
Interestingly, the Old Norse word "heimaligr" (pronounced "hey-mah-luhg-r"), which means "domestic" or "homely", is a cognate of "hāmlīc". This suggests that there may have been some influence or borrowing between the Old English and Old Norse languages.
Idioms with the word HOMELY
-
homely enough to stop a clock
The idiom "homely enough to stop a clock" is a humorous way of describing someone's physical appearance as unattractive or extremely unappealing. It suggests that the person is so unattractive that even a clock would figuratively "stop" in shock or disbelief upon seeing them.
Similar spelling words for HOMELY
- home,
- holly,
- homel,
- holy,
- homily,
- honeywell,
- hommel,
- homer,
- honey oil,
- homelier,
- Homyel.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
