The word "womanly" is spelled with a "wuh" sound at the beginning, followed by the "uh" sound in the middle and the "lee" sound at the end. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈwʊmənli/. This adjective means having qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gracefulness, gentleness, or sensitivity. It is not to be confused with "womanish," which has a negative connotation and means "affectedly feminine." So, if you want to describe someone with positive feminine qualities, "womanly" is the right word to use.
The term "womanly" is an adjective that pertains to the qualities or characteristics commonly associated with women or girls. It describes the attributes, behavior, or appearance that are traditionally considered as typical, appropriate, or desirable for females, particularly in terms of their femininity or a mature, adult woman. Being womanly encompasses a wide range of traits and expressions that are often considered gentle, nurturing, or graceful.
In terms of physical appearance, it generally refers to having feminine features such as soft facial features, a curvaceous figure, and generally not possessing overtly masculine characteristics. However, it is important to note that the concept of being womanly transcends physical attributes and encompasses various psychological and emotional elements as well.
Behaviorally, being womanly often implies having refined manners, elegance, and emotional sensitivity. Traits such as kindness, compassion, empathy, and gentleness are oftentimes associated with womanly behavior. Furthermore, it may also denote qualities such as patience, tolerance, and the ability to navigate and foster positive relationships.
While the idea of being womanly is rooted in societal norms and cultural expectations, it is crucial to recognize that these constructs can vary across different cultures and time periods. The definition of womanly has evolved over time, and societal attitudes continue to shift, acknowledging the diverse and multifaceted nature of womanhood and femininity.
• In the manner of a woman.
• Feminine; not masculine; suiting or becoming a woman; not childish.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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.
The word womanly is derived from the Old English word wimmanlic, which was a combination of wimman (meaning woman) and -lic (a suffix indicating having the characteristics of). Over time, wimmanlic evolved into wimmanly in Middle English, and eventually transformed into the modern spelling and pronunciation, womanly.