comely
Comely (adj) means Pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way. Example: “The novel describes her as a comely young woman with quiet confidence.”
How to use comely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of saying someone or something is good-looking, without the intensity of "gorgeous" or "stunning."
Fairly literary or old-fashioned in modern English; rare in everyday speech.
Word forms
comelier comparative, more comely comparative, more comely comparative, comelied past tense, comelies singular, comeliest superlative, most comely superlative, most comely superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The novel describes her as a _____ young woman with quiet confidence.
Etymology
From Old English cymlic, meaning "beautiful" or "splendid," combined with the suffix -lic ("-like").
Rhymes for comely
See all rhymes for comely →Frequently asked questions
What does “comely” mean?
The word “comely” means pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way. In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of saying someone or something is good-looking, without the intensity of "gorgeous" or "stunning.".
How do you pronounce “comely”?
“Comely” is pronounced KUHM-lee (/ˈkʌmli/ in IPA).
How do you use “comely” in a sentence?
Here is “comely” used in a sentence: “The novel describes her as a comely young woman with quiet confidence.”
What part of speech is “comely”?
“Comely” is an adjective.
Where does the word “comely” come from?
The word “comely” comes from Old English. From Old English cymlic, meaning "beautiful" or "splendid," combined with the suffix -lic ("-like").