comely

English

Alternative forms

cumlie, comly (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English comly, cumly, cumlich, from Old English cymlīċ, cȳmlīċ (compare Old English cȳme (“fine, exquisite”), from Proto-Germanic *kūmiz (“delicate”)), from Proto-Germanic *kūmalīkaz (“pitiful, dear”). Cognate with Middle Dutch komlick, komelick, Middle High German komelīh, gomelīh.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈkʌmli/
Audio (US) (file)

Adjective

comely (comparative comelier or more comely, superlative comeliest or most comely)

(dated, of a person) Pleasing or attractive to the eye.
Synonym: pulchritudinous
Antonym: homely (of a person)
- 1571, Roger Ascham, Toxophilus, the Schole, or Partitions, of Shooting. Contayned in II Bookes. […], imprinted at London, […]: By Thomas Marshe, OCLC 932903701; republished in The English Works of Roger Ascham, […], London: Printed for R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], and J[ohn] Newbery, […], 1761, OCLC 642424485, book 2, page 162:
  In ſhootinge at the prickes, haſtye and quicke drawinge is neyther ſure nor yet comely.
- (Can we date this quote?) South
  He that is comely when old and decrepit, surely was very beautiful when he was young.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
  Not once perceive their foul disfigurement / But boast themselves more comely than before.
- 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter IX, in The Land That Time Forgot:
  The chief's name was To-jo, and his household consisted of seven females and himself. These women were much more comely, or rather less hideous than those of Tsa's people; one of them, even, was almost pretty, being less hairy and having a rather nice skin, with high coloring.
(archaic) Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare
  This is a happier and more comely time / Than when these fellows ran about the streets, / Crying confusion.
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Psalms cxlvii. 1
  It is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

Derived terms

comeliness

Translations

pleasing or attractive to the eye

Bulgarian: миловиден (bg) (miloviden)
Dutch: bevallig (nl)
French: avenant (fr)
German: hübsch (de), ansehnlich (de)
Greek:
Ancient: εὔμορφος (eúmorphos)
Hungarian: kedves (hu), kellemes (hu), csinos (hu)

Irish: córach, cuanna, cumaí, cumtha, daite, dathúil, dea-chumtha, dreachúil, gnaíúil, lachanta, leacanta, maisiúil, slachtmhar, sochraidh, spéisiúil
Latin: venustus
Polish: urodziwy (pl)
Portuguese: lindo (pt), atraente (pt)
Romanian: plăcut (ro), drăguț (ro)
Spanish: lindo (es)

Anagrams

Comley