comely
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkʌmli/
rhymes: -ʌmli
Forms: form: comelier
form: more comely
form: comeliest
form: most comely
form: comly
form: cumlie
Etymology: The adjective is derived from Middle English comly, comli, cumly, cumlich (“of a person: beautiful, handsome, etc.; of noble birth, bearing, or character; of behaviour: appropriate, becoming; of an event: convenient; favourable; of a thing: beautiful, wonderful; fitting, proper”), from Old English cymlīċ, cȳmlīċ (“beautiful, comely; splendid; convenient”), from cȳme (“beautiful, comely; splendid; exquisite, fine”) + -līċ (suffix meaning ‘like; relating to’ forming adjectives). Cȳme is derived from Proto-Germanic *kūmiz (“delicate; feeble”), from *kūmalīkaz (“dear; pitiful”), probably related to *kūmaz, *kūmijaz (“pitiful; frail, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *gewH- (“to call, name; to call on, invoke; to cry, cry out”). The word was influenced by come (verb).
The verb is derived from the adjective.
Cognates
Middle Dutch komelick, komlick
Middle High German gomelīh, komelīh
Senses: examples: text: a comely woman
text: Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, / But boaſt themſelves more comely than before
ref: 1634 October 9 (first performance), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 3:
english: Comus
translation: Comus
text: This is properly Venus, Beauty, vvhich kindles the fire of Love in Mankinde: […] VVe ſee many perſons exact, and unaccuſtomable in every part, deſtitute of this grace and comlineſſe; others leſſe perfect in thoſe particular conditions, excellently graceful and comely; […]
ref: 1656, Tho[mas] Stanley, “[Plato.] A Platonick Discourse, Written in Italian by John Picus Earl of Mirandula, in Explication of a Sonnet by Hieronimo Benivieni.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Second Volume, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring: […], →OCLC, 5th part (Containing the Academick Philosophers), 3rd part of the discourse, scenes VI–VIII, page 116:
text: He that is comely, when old and decrepit, ſurely was very beautiful, when he was young.
ref: 1662 November 19 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1692, Robert South, “A Sermon Preached at the Cathedral-Church of St. Paul’s, November the 9th, 1662 [Julian calendar]”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions. […], volume I, London: […] J[ohn] H[eptinstall] for Thomas Bennet, […], →OCLC, page 55:
text: [T]he Bishop of London [Humphrey Henchman], who sat there in a pew, made a purpose for him by the pulpitt, do give the last blessing to the congregation; which was, he being a comely old man, a very decent thing, methought. The Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir J[ohn] Robinson, would needs have me by coach home with him, and sending word home to my house I did go and dine with him, his ordinary table being very good, and his lady [Anne Whitmore] a very high-carriaged but comely big woman; I was mightily pleased with her.
ref: 1664 March 9 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “February 28th, 1663–1664 (Lord’s Day)”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume IV, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1894, →OCLC, page 58:
text: Then had I come, preventing Sheba's Queen, / To ſee the comelieſt of the Sons of Men; […]
ref: 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, book II (Pleasure), page 448:
text: He [Friday] vvas a comely, handsome Fellovv, perfectly vvell made, vvith ſtrait long Limbs, not too large, tall and vvell ſhap'd; and, as I reckon, about tvventy-ſix Years of Age.
ref: 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 243:
text: Near to the winter fire sat a beautiful young girl, so like that last that Scrooge believed it was the same, until he saw her, now a comely matron, sitting opposite her daughter.
ref: 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 68:
text: As the painter looked at the gracious and comely form he had so skilfully mirrored in his art, a smile of pleasure passed across his face, and seemed about to linger there.
ref: 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter I, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.; Melbourne, Vic.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 2:
text: 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.
ref: 1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IX, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, part II, number 12, New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, March 1927, →OCLC, page 1143, column 2:
text: In particular, Connolly loved good food, expensive wine, first-class travel, inscribed first editions, the South of France and, not least, comely young women.
ref: 2020 February 18, Michael Dirda, “A tale of the free-spirited women who tangled with Orwell and other literary lions”, in Washington Post:
text: Described as "the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms," Hightower has both "courtly grace and a keen political acumen."
ref: 2021 March 10, Elaine Low, “"Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" adds Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy”, in Salon:
glosses: Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.
Of a person: attractive or pleasing to look at; beautiful, handsome; also, attractive but not particularly beautiful or handsome.
synonyms: word: pulchritudinous
word: attractive
word: beauteous
word: beautifool
word: beautiful
word: beautimous
word: bona vardering
word: bonnie
word: breathtaking
word: captivating
word: comely
word: cute
word: esculent
word: exquisite
word: fair
word: fetching
word: fine-looking
word: good-looking
word: good enough to eat
word: handsome
word: knockout
word: lovely
word: lovesome
word: lustrious
word: nice
word: nice-looking
word: personable
word: physically attractive
word: pretty
word: prettiful
word: pulchritudinous
word: shapely
word: sheen
word: sightly
word: stunning
word: swanlike
word: well-favoured
word: winsome
antonyms: word: homely
word: uncomely
word: attractive
word: beautiful
word: comely
word: good-looking
word: handsome
word: nice
word: pretty
examples: text: Doth any contumely vvhich vvee ſuſtaine for religions ſake pierce ſo deeply as […] vvhen they […] trample vnder foote almoſt vvhatſoeuer either vvee or the vvhole Church of God by the ſpace of ſo many ages haue beene accuſtomed vnto for the comlier and better exerciſe of our religion according to the ſoundeſt rules that vviſedome directed by the vvord of God and by long experience confirmed hath beene able vvith common aduice, vvith much deliberation and exceeding great diligence to comprehende; […]
ref: 1597, Richard Hooker, “In the Seruice of Idols the Doores of Their Temples, the Sacrifices, the Altars, the Priests and the Supplicants that were Present Wore Garlands”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, section 65, page 344:
text: I neuer tempted her vvith vvord too large, / But as a brother to his ſiſter, ſhevved / Baſhfull ſinceritie, and comelie loue.
ref: 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature [F4], recto:
text: This is a happier and more comely time, / Then vvhen theſe Fellovves ran about the ſtreets, / Crying Confuſion.
ref: c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], page 23, column 2:
text: Praiſe ye the Lord: for it is good to ſing praiſes vnto our God: for it is pleaſant, and praiſe is comely.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 147:1, column 2:
text: Behold hovv comely and good a thing it is for brethren to liue together in vnion: […]
ref: 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Charity, Composed of All Three Kindes, Pleasant, Profitable, Honest”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 1, member 3, page 527:
text: That as nothing is more ſvveet and delightfull, ſo nothing more comely and agreeable to humane nature then peaceable living, it being (as Solomon ſaith) an honour to a man to ceaſe from ſtrife; and conſequently alſo a diſgrace to him to continue therein: […]
ref: a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “The Eighth Sermon. Romans 12. 18.”, in Of the Love of God and Our Neighbour, in Several Sermons, volume III, London: […] Miles Flesher, for Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1680, →OCLC, page 312:
text: (A long proceſſion) timely marching home / In comely order to the regal dome.
ref: 1725, Homer, “Book III”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 128, lines 503–504:
glosses: Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.
Of a person, an action, behaviour, etc.: meeting accepted moral or social norms; appropriate, becoming, proper.
synonyms: word: agreeable
word: seemly
word: appropriate
word: apropos
word: apposite
word: apt
word: comely
word: commensurate
word: correct
word: decorous
word: expedient
word: felicitous
word: fit
word: fit for purpose
word: fitting
word: gainand
word: idoneous
word: in line
word: likely
word: meet
word: opportune
word: proper
word: right
word: seemly
word: sensible
word: sortable
word: suitable
word: tidy
word: up to standard
antonyms: word: improper
word: inappropriate
word: unbecoming
word: uncomely
word: unseemly
word: suitable
examples: text: In ſhootinge at the prickes, haſtye and quicke drawinge is neyther ſure nor yet comely.
ref: 1544 (date written; published 1571), Roger Ascham, Toxophilus, the Schole, or Partitions, of Shooting. […], London: […] Thomas Marshe, →OCLC; republished in The English Works of Roger Ascham, […], London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], and J[ohn] Newbery, […], 1761, →OCLC, book 2, page 162:
glosses: Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.
Of a thing: beautiful, elegant, well-composed; also, delicate, fine.
antonyms: uncomely
examples: text: Oh hovv comely it is and hovv reviving / To the Spirits of juſt men long oppreſt! / VVhen God into the hands of thir deliverer / Puts invincible might
ref: 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 76, lines 279–282:
text: [T]hey said many kind and comely things about the people they had met.
ref: 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, “With the Children of Israel. III. The Return.”, in The Silverado Squatters, London: Chatto and Windus, […], →OCLC, page 93:
synonyms: word: gratifying
word: acceptable
word: agreeable
word: amiable
word: charming
word: comely
word: nice
word: pleasant
word: pleasing
word: welcome
antonyms: word: pleasant
glosses: Pleasing to the feelings or senses; agreeable, nice, pleasant.
Derived terms: word: comelily
word: comeliness
word: comely maidens
word: comelyness
word: uncomelily
word: uncomeliness
word: uncomely