Definition of HOMELY

homely

Meanings

Adjective Satellite

  • lacking in physical beauty or proportion
    • "a homely child"
    • "several of the buildings were downright homely"
  • having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable
    • "the homely everyday atmosphere"
  • plain and unpretentious
    • "homely truths"
    • "letters to his son full of homely advice"
    • "homely fare"
  • without artificial refinement or elegance
    • "plain homely furniture"
    • "homely manners"

Adj

  • Characteristic of, belonging to, or befitting a home; domestic, cozy.
  • Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.
  • On intimate or friendly terms with (someone); familiar; at home (with a person); intimate.
  • Domestic; tame.
  • Personal; private.
  • Friendly; kind; gracious; cordial.
  • Conservative and family-oriented.
  • Simple; plain; familiar; unelaborate; unadorned.

Origin / 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”).

Synonyms

homelike, homey, homy, plain

Antonyms

comely

Scrabble Score: 14

homely is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
homely is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
homely is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

homely is a valid Words With Friends word