homelyadj.

Brit.

/ˈhəʊmli/, U.S.

/ˈhoʊmli/

Forms: see home n.¹ and adj. and -ly suffix¹; also 1500s hwmly, 1800s homblest (superlative, U.S. regional (north-eastern)), 1800s– haumly (English regional (Essex)), 1800s– humbly (U.S. regional (chiefly north-eastern)), 1900s– humly (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1900s– hum'ly (U.S. regional (north-eastern)); also Scottish pre-1700 hambly, pre-1700 hammelie, pre-1700 haymly, pre-1700 heamly, pre-1700 hemlie, pre-1700 heymlye, 1800s hemly (Shetland), 1900s– hyimly (southern), 1900s– hyimmly (southern).

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: home n.¹, -ly suffix¹.

Etymology: < home n.¹ + -ly suffix¹. Compare Middle Dutch heimelīke , heimelijk of or belonging to a household or home, familiar, friendly, intimate (Dutch heimelijk : see below), Middle Low German hēmelīk friendly, intimate (see also note below), Old High German heimlīh of or belonging to a person's own country (Middle High German heimelich , heimlich of or belonging to a person's own country, familiar, intimate, German heimlich : see below); also ( < Middle Low German) Old Danish hemmelig , hiemmelig intimate, private (Danish hemmelig : see below; Danish hjemlig , †hjemmelig ‘of or belonging to a household or home’ (18th cent.) is an independent formation after German heimlich ), Old Swedish hemeliker , hemelikin , hemelig of or belonging to a household or home (Swedish hemlig : see below). Compare homely adv.In several cognate Germanic languages, the parallel adjective shows a different semantic development from ‘private’ to ‘secret, clandestine’ or ‘mysterious’. Such senses exist (and are the chief or even only senses in later use) in Old Frisian hēmelik, heimelik, hēmlik (West Frisian heimelik, heimlik), Middle Dutch heimelīke, heimelijk (Dutch heimelijk), Middle Low German hēmelīk, Middle High German heimelich, heimlich (German heimlich), Danish hemmelig, Swedish hemlig. Forms showing u in the first syllable or medial -b- are perhaps influenced by association with humble adj.

1. Of or belonging to a household or home. Also: of or belonging to a person's own country or native land. rare after 16th cent.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > [adjective] > of or belonging to home

homelyc1384

householdc1384

meniala1387

hamald?a1400

domestical1459

home1552

householdly1557

homish1561

housal1611

domestica1616

domal1728

fireside1740

householdy1863

hearthrug1864

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. x. 36 The enmyes of a man ben his homly meynee.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1210 (MED) He gef vus to be his homly hyne.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1373 Many homly [Fr. domesches] trees ther were That peches Coynes and apples beere.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gal. vi. 10 To alle men; but most to hem that ben homliche of the feith.

a1555 H. Latimer 27 Serm. (1562) ii. f. 126^v I heard say, that there were some homelye theeues, some pyckers in this worshipfull house.

1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1878) iii. vii. ii. 44 Dogs of the homelie kind, are either shepheards, curs, or mastiffes.

1621 Greeuous Grones for Poore 21 The Fisherman-like Diuell..will drawe the Hookes of death, pull them from their fellowes, carrie them to his homely Hell.

c1839 T. E. Wilks Ben Boatswain i. ii. 11 He has sent this man hither to seize my homely goods.

1875 M. R. Pilon Yanko-Sequor II. v. 74 We will be richer in wool, cotton, wheat,..with our homely money to give activity to all trades.

1907 F. C. Kempson Future Life & Mod. Diffic. viii. 123 We have among our homely possessions a box of small shells, which we use as counters in family games of cards.

a. Characteristic or suggestive of a home (esp. a modest one) or of domestic life; ordinary, everyday; simple, plain, unsophisticated; rough, rustic. In later use also (chiefly British, of a place or its atmosphere, etc.): cosy, comfortable.In this and in sense 2b used both depreciatively, implying lack of elegance or refinement, and as a term of approbation, implying lack of ostentation or pretentiousness.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > [adjective] > homely or rustic

homelya1387

uplandisha1387

hamald?a1400

rustical1483

agrestc1550

fustianc1550

homespun1590

russet1598

agrestic1617

raplocha1628

Adamitic1656

russet-coated1683

rustic1738

turnipy1792

countrified1875

corny1932

bakya1960

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 281 (MED) Hit is homeliche oþerwhile to a wise man for to pleie..to refresche hym self and to make hym more strong to dedes of vertues.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 135 Thanne hadde I with yow homly suffisaunce I am a man of litel sustenaunce.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos 1 Some gentylmen..desired me to vse olde and homely termes in my translacyons.

1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 164 Who can tell if suche men are worthe a groate, when their apparell is so homely?

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 112 Heir is bot hamelie fair.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 96 The Buzzar in this Towne is but homely.

1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown xvii. §5 What Laughing, what Fleering, what Mocking of their homely Fashion would there be?

1727 D. Defoe Tour Great Brit. III. i. 71 Port Patrick has nothing in it to invite our Stay, 'tis a mean dirty homely Place.

1795 Gentleman's Mag. 65 607/2 The unfortunate King of Poland..lives in a very homely manner.

1814 Ld. Byron Corsair i. ii. 4 Earth's coarsest bread, the garden's homeliest roots.

1857 ‘W. Triton’ Fisher Boy (1858) viii. 118 The traders and the ship-captains..set an example of style, that quite upset the simple and homely notions prevalent in the neighborhood.

1877 E. M. A. Savage Let. 5 Dec. in H. F. Jones Samuel Butler (1919) I. xv. 261 ‘I like this place,’ she said, ‘it is so homely,’ and then she looked at me and said it was ‘so homely’, meaning, alas! shabby.

1915 J. O. Francis Change iv. 128 The women putting the water for them to wash, and laying the tea, and making the place nice and homely.

1922 A. M. W. Stirling William De Morgan & his Wife iii. 52 It was just a resuscitation of ordinary, homely events in that bygone life, realistic in its sheer triviality.

1934 Changing Men 25 There has been no homelier, happier place than the Woman's Shelter in High Street.

1956 R. Knox Window in Wall p. vii Since his time the touching, homely, rather anyhow little church..has twice had a change of rectors.

1971 Countryman Autumn 203/1 (advt.) Homely atmosphere, quality food, organically grown vegetables, log fires.

2001 FourFourTwo Aug. 127/1 Their usual retreat..was homely rather than opulent and the players appreciated the relaxed atmosphere.

b. Of a person: of humble background; having a plain or simple nature; unsophisticated; rustic.See note at sense 2a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [adjective] > unsophisticated

plainc1425

homelyc1426

homespun1590

brown bread1606

unsophisticate1607

simple1613

uncompounded1615

uncourtlike1659

unsophisticated1665

russet-coated1683

buff1792

unvarnished1827

rube1898

cracker-barrel1933

haimish1957

bakya1960

c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 12 (MED) Hou homle hosbondusmen here hertis þai aryse.

c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) ii. l. 43 Ȝe myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis.

?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) i. ii. 154 A pore homely laborynge man.

1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 5th Serm. sig. Ovii^v In his persuasions he is verye whomly.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. ii. 69 If you will take a homely mans aduice, Be not found heere.

1661 R. Boyle Some Considerations Style of Script. (1675) Ep. Ded. 6 As a homely digger may shew a man a rich mine.

1705 I. Norris in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1870) IX. 371 I beg excuse for being thus homely and plain.

1798 A. Schink tr. A. von Kotzebue Stranger iv. 51 Mrs. Smith, without doubt, is a good, homely, woman; but yet she is no angel neither.

1845 R. Browning Flight of Duchess xvi, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 19/1 Smooth Jacob still robs homely Esau.

1863 J. W. Carlyle Lett. III. 155 A dear little homely woman.

1908 J. London Martin Eden i. 2 You mustn't be frightened at us. We're just homely people.

1996 J. Updike In Beauty of Lilies iii. 299 Old Jimmy McMullen was a homely devil—always looked like a truck-loader in his tux.

c. Esp. of a person: of plain appearance; unattractive. Now North American.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [adjective] > having specific appearance

huedc1000

beseemeda1250

lookingc1330

well-faringc1330

well-beseenc1374

farranda1400

homely?a1439

ill-favoured1530

seeming1590

looked1597

ill-looking1633

complexioned1639

ill-lookeda1640

leonine1660

plain-looking1744

natural-looking1810

anthropoid1881

thuggish-looking1903

new look1950

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. l. 2512 (MED) Raueynous foulis, ful homli in ther siht, Themsilff to feede vpon the corps aliht.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. i. 88 Hath homelie age th'alluring beauty tooke From my poore cheeke?

1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown xi. §10 Nothing is Homely in God's Sight but Sin.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Homely, ugly, disagreeable, course, mean.

a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) III. viii. 211 She..was extremely deformed and homely.

1860 Ladies Repository May 285/2 A homely face, surely,..but there is a beautiful soul indwelling.

1886 E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew I. viii. 144 The homely vein running through her own four daughters, of whom not one was really pretty and some were really plain.

1911 G. M. Gould Magic of Dress xvi. 128 To the pretty girl, pride is poison; but to the homely girl, it is a tonic.

1960 Life 4 July 60/1 A good tailor might help him a little—but then you're still stuck with that homely face.

2002 Out Feb. 67/1 Even the homeliest old gringos have a couple of cute young twinks hanging around them.

a. With †to, with. Of a person or a person's manner: familiar; friendly; intimate. rare after 17th cent.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > intimate or familiar

homelya1387

familiarc1405

familarya1500

internal1581

intrinsical1602

intimated1606

intrinsic1613

intimea1618

intimous1619

domestica1631

intimate1635

pack1686

thickc1756

throng1768

versant1787

solid1882

chummy1884

tutoyant1899

cosy1927

schmoozy1954

tight1956

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 7 Felix of..Burgoyn..had be homeliche [?a1475 anon tr. familier, L. familiaris] wiþ Sigebertus.

c1400 Prose Versions New Test.: Gal. (Selwyn) (1904) vi. 10 (MED) Do we good to alle men, bote most to þilke þat beþ homlyche to þe bylefe [L. ad domesticos fidei].

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 13 Þei [sc. the apostles] were clepid..to be more homely wiþ him þan þei weren before.

a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 156 Þat he [sc. Mortimer] was ouyr homeli with þe qween.

c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 853 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 328 Þis man, þat vas hamely with hyme.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. H.ij This goode emperoure was..homely with euery man.

1588 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 239 Lyik as my predicessouris hes beine hamlie with ȝour predicessouris, sua meyn I..to continew in freindschip towardis ȝow.

1636 S. Rutherford Let. 6 July in Joshua Redivivus (1664) 476 Ye see your father is homely with you.

1695 E. Eizat Apollo Mathematicus 53 Jupiter having condemned him [sc. Endymion] to a perpetual Sleep, because he had been a litle too homely with Juno, she stole him away from him, and hid him in a Cave under a Mountain.

a1713 A. Pitcairne Assembly (1722) iii. i. 47 If my Tenants were as impertinently homely with me, as they're with their Master, I should not bear it so patiently.

1854 G. Alexander Lilias xxxi. 176/1 They can afford to be homely with the like of us poor creatures, without the slightest danger of compromising their dignity.

1998 D. N. Das One World One Family v. 25 I felt more homely with the Romans..whom I met on the streets and in the hotel.

b. Chiefly Scottish. Kind, kindly; courteous. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective]

mildeOE

blitheOE

goodOE

well-willingOE

beina1200

goodfulc1275

blithefula1300

faira1300

benignc1320

gainc1330

sweetc1330

kinda1333

propicec1350

well-willeda1382

well-disposeda1393

well-hearteda1393

well-willinga1393

friendsomea1400

well-willya1400

charitablec1405

well-willed1417

good-heartedc1425

kindlyc1425

honeyed1435

propitious1440

affectuousc1441

willya1449

homelyc1450

benevolous1470

benigned1470

benevolent1482

favourousc1485

well-meaned1488

well-meaning1498

humanec1500

favourablec1503

affectionatea1516

well-mindedc1522

beneficial1526

propiciant1531

benignate1533

well-intendeda1535

beneficious1535

kind-hearted1535

well-given1535

affectioned1539

well-wishing1548

figgy?1549

good-meaning1549

affectedc1553

affectionated1561

well-natured1561

well-affected?1563

officious1565

well-inclined1569

good-natured1582

partial1587

graceful?1593

well-intentioned1598

beneficent1616

candid1633

kindlike1637

benefic1641

kindly-hearted1762

well-meant1765

benignanta1782

sweet-hearted1850

c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich Revelations Divine Love: Shorter Version (1978) 49 (MED) Oure lord es so hamlye & so curtayse.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 42 He agayn with humyll, hamly cher Rasauit him.

a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. l. 7050 Scho was suet and debonare, Curtasse, hamly, pleyssande and fayr.

?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 331 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 223 And with suete wordys hambly Reconfortit thame rytht hertly.

1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 166 Ye ne'er was donsie; But hamely, tawie, quiet an' cannie, An' unco sonsie.

1844 C. Long Sir Roland Ashton II. iii. 22 She rose, and walked by the sailor's side, who..strove with homely feeling to cheer her evident dejection.

1867 G. MacDonald Poems 20 Whom gentler, homelier feelings stir.

1924 M. Angus Tinker's Road 19 Wi' Patrick be hamely, Wi' Patrick be kind.

c. Of things: familiar; well-known. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adjective]

couthOE

known1340

familiara1398

unstrangec1400

learnedc1420

conversant1430

beknown?c1475

well-beknown1480

quentc1540

well-kent1554

quainted1560

well-known1568

obversant1579

conversed1607

tame1609

familiarized1633

intimatea1680

household1761

homely1782

ole1835

old1898

1782 Town & Country Mag. Mar. 129/1 Opposition also of idea belongs to both: when remote to the farmer, when homely to the latter.

1889 H. R. Haggard Cleopatra i When the matter [she had heard] had become homely in her mind, and her fear had fallen from her, she spoke of the prophecy.

1981 C. Thomas Christianity in Rom. Brit. iii. 80 Not a line of the normal prayer-book service was followed..and the Rector twice played his guitar. Only the Lord's Prayer seemed homely.

2008 S. Dennis Christmas Island i. 61 We may enter buildings in our towns whose layouts will feel homely to us.

Phrases

P1. home is homely: see home n.¹ and adj. Phrases 2a.

P2. as homely as a mud fence: see mud fence n. at mud n.¹ Compounds 2a.

Compounds

C1. Forming parasynthetic and complementary adjectives, as homely-featured, homely-looking, etc.

ΚΠ

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth V. 174 Many of the more homely looking fowls are very deservedly preferred.

1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 252 Like homely-featured Night.

1864 A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 3) 99 Our farmers were then more homely-looking individuals than at present.

1886 H. C. Bunner Midge i. 15 Alphonsine, the homely-faced, good-natured apprentice of the house of Goubard.

1908 K. L. Jenner Our Lady in Art i. v. 63 Mary, a homely-featured peasant woman, is seated on a bench in the carpenter's shop.

1987 M. Hollis Cunning of Reason (1989) viii. 128 This homely-sounding truth has direct implications for economic theory.

2006 Philadelphia July 84/1 Tomatoes, thin-skinned, sometimes homely-looking, always delicious.

C2.

† homely man n. Obsolete a male domestic servant.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun]

hirdmanc993

hirdcnihtc1000

hirdcnavec1275

hirdswainc1275

hewea1350

officerc1375

homely mana1382

meniala1387

household servant1427

homely womana1500

domestical?c1550

comprador1615

domestic1623

spider-brusher1833

house help1837

domiciliary1844

hoghenhine1848

kitchen mechanic1861

home helper1864

home help1883

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xxxi. 15 She..ȝaf prei to hir homli men [a1425 L.V. meyneals; L. domesticis], and metis to hir hand wymmen.

a1500 Promptorium Parvulorum (King's Cambr.) 245 Homliman, or woman, domesticus, domestica.

† homely woman n. Obsolete a nun; (also) a female domestic servant.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > church government > monasticism > nun > [noun]

nuneOE

sistereOE

minchenOE

nun-sisterOE

spousea1200

ladyc1275

religious1340

clergess1393

homely womana1400

monialc1400

moinesa1513

sanctimoniala1513

vowess1533

nosegent1567

votaress1589

votress1597

monkess1602

White Lady1606

cloistressa1616

sanctimony1630

religiosea1657

clergywoman1673

religieuse1682

religioso1708

vestal1717

society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun]

hirdmanc993

hirdcnihtc1000

hirdcnavec1275

hirdswainc1275

hewea1350

officerc1375

homely mana1382

meniala1387

household servant1427

homely womana1500

domestical?c1550

comprador1615

domestic1623

spider-brusher1833

house help1837

domiciliary1844

hoghenhine1848

kitchen mechanic1861

home helper1864

home help1883

a1400 Ancrene Riwle (Pepys) (1976) 26 Þe fende scheteþ mo querels to homelich wymmen þan to an hundreþ leuedies in þe werlde.

a1500 Promptorium Parvulorum (King's Cambr.) 245 Homliman, or woman, domesticus, domestica.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

homelyadv.

Brit.

/ˈhəʊmli/, U.S.

/ˈhoʊmli/

Forms: see home n.¹ and adj. and -ly suffix²; also Scottish pre-1700 hamille.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: home n.¹, -ly suffix².

Etymology: < home n.¹ + -ly suffix². Compare Old Frisian hēmelike, heimlike (West Frisian heimelik, heimlik), Middle Dutch heimelīke, heimelijk (Dutch heimelijk), Middle Low German hēmeliken, Middle High German heimelīche, heimlīche (German heimlich).The words in other Germanic languages additionally show the sense ‘secretly, clandestinely’ early on; this is now the only current sense in West Frisian, Dutch, and German. Compare the etymological note at homely adj.

1. Plainly, simply; in an unsophisticated or unpretentious manner; roughly. Now rare (colloquial in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > [adverb] > in homely manner

homelyc1390

homelily1556

the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adverb] > unmannerly > roughly or with lack of refinement

homelyc1390

rudelyc1405

greata1425

swinishly1542

clubbishly1548

carterly1556

homelily1556

brutishly1580

loutishly1580

boorishly1605

brutely1605

inurbanely1610

mechanically1613

porterly1659

coarsely1678

coarse1680

brutally1824

vulgarly1831

crudely1881

cubbishly1883

yobbishly1984

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adverb] > in unworkmanlike manner > with rough workmanship

rudely?1507

homely1549

the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [adverb]

unhendlya1225

uncourteously1338

rudelyc1405

rudec1460

roidlyc1480

homely1563

discourteously1572

uncivilly1577

indiscreetly1637

unhandsomely1662

incivilly1671

unpolitely1695

impolitely1736

incourteously1859

c1390 Pistel of Swete Susan (Vernon) l. 200 (MED) Homliche on hir heued heor hondus þei leyed.

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 330 He rood but hoomly in a medlee coote.

c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. l. 212 (MED) He drough him to an herne at þe halle ende, Well homelich yhelid in an holsum gyse.

1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie sig. Cviii Homlyes..maye be well called, for they are homely handeled.

1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1077/1 Of these yeomen of the garde..the fourth (whose name was Homes) used him very homely, unkindly, and churlishelie.

1630 B. Jonson New Inne ii. i A bashful child, homely brought up, In a rude hostelrie.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 428 Thus..homely drest, He strides into the Hall.

1797 N.-Y. Mag. Feb. 103 Will Nature's children, homely clad, Or Friendship's voice sincere, Thy sympathetic bosom glad, or charm, as erst, thine ear?

1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 439/3 I had been ‘walking humbly and homely’ for some time, but this was too much for my Ebenezer; so I commenced to straighten up until I had all the kinks out of my back.

1971 G. Ewart Gavin Ewart Show i. 28 I am a bottle of wine..slup me rough and homely and I'll taste fine.

†2.

a. Familiarly, intimately. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adverb]

couthc1000

familiarly1387

homelya1400

at home1841

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adverb] > intimately or familiarly

couthlyc900

wellOE

homelya1400

commonlya1450

familiarlyc1450

domestically1576

inwardly1584

intimately1645

particularly1680

arm-in-armly1743

hand in glove1788

pack1874

a1400 (?a1325) Medit. on Supper of our Lord (Harl.) (1875) l. 275 (MED) Byholde how homely Ion lyþ slepyng On crystys brest, as hys derlyng.

a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) l. 3554 (MED) Down he broght hir til his hows, Hamely als sho war his spows.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 245/1 Homly, or yn homly maner, Domestice, familiariter.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) iv. 1 Hamly he spekis til him.

a1500 (?a1400) Tale King Edward & Shepherd (Cambr.) (1930) l. 1035 (MED) Drynk þe wyne As homely as i did of thyne.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iv. sig. C.j What..A nourse talke so homely with one of your worship?

a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 328 Therfore Dauison enterit hamely with him and was maid his gossup.

1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xxxi. 34) 249 Presumptuous sinners deal as homely with the dear mercies of Almighty God.

1736 N. MacVicar Let. 31 Aug. in W. Steven Hist. Sc. Church (1833) v. 116 Those who know not the Reverend Mr. Mair are pleased to make homely with his character.

b. Kindly. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adverb]

welleOE

blithec1000

blithelyc1000

goodfullya1300

blethelyc1300

milthlyc1300

kindlya1375

benignlyc1380

en-gree14..

homelya1425

benevolently1532

benign1535

obsequiously?1536

kindly1581

kind1592

propitiously1600

kindlily1625

well-meaningly1645

obligingly1646

candidly1650

beneficentlya1717

kindly-like1716

good-naturedly1725

benignantly1791

kindheartedly1803

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 177 (MED) Crist wolde..þe peple shulde gladly fede hem, and þei [sc. his disciples] shulden homly take þat þei founden.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) xviii. 546 His frendis yusgat curtasly He couth ressawe and hamely.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 47 I..him behaldis hamely with hertly smyling.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ix. sig. Gg4^v There he was welcom'd of that honest syre, And of his aged Beldame homely well.

†3. With reference to speech or writing: without reserve or circumlocution; plainly; directly. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > plainness > [adverb] > straightforwardly or directly

platc1375

in short and plainc1386

plaina1387

platlyc1390

in (also at, on, unto) (a, the) plainc1395

roundc1405

homelya1413

directly1509

roundly1528

point-blank1598

in good set termsa1616

broadly1624

crudely1638

plain downa1640

plumply1726

plumpa1734

squably1737

straightforward1809

unvarnishedly1824

pine-blank1834

blankly1846

squarely1860

straight out1874

straightforwardly1906

a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 1559 She nold not feyne But as his suster homly [c1430 Cambr. Gg.4.27 homeli] for to seyne.

1465 J. Russe in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 308 For-yeue me that I wryte thus boldly and homly to you.

1524 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 90 I amm sa bald to writ sa haymly to ȝour grace.

1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job (new ed.) 18 To what purpose is it set out vnto vs here so homely and after the maner of men?

1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 107 Yf he can accuse, lett him doe y^t homely.

a1686 Earl of Anglesey King's Right of Indulgence (1688) 28 They..spoke homely of the Clergy, who assisted the Pope's proceedings, crying out upon these shrivled Ribbaulds.

1751 H. Mann Let. 10 June in H. Walpole Corr. (1960) XX. 58 I have represented the affair homely.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	homely
释义	homelyadj. Brit. /ˈhəʊmli/, U.S. /ˈhoʊmli/ Forms: see home n.¹ and adj. and -ly suffix¹; also 1500s hwmly, 1800s homblest (superlative, U.S. regional (north-eastern)), 1800s– haumly (English regional (Essex)), 1800s– humbly (U.S. regional (chiefly north-eastern)), 1900s– humly (English regional (Yorkshire)), 1900s– hum'ly (U.S. regional (north-eastern)); also Scottish pre-1700 hambly, pre-1700 hammelie, pre-1700 haymly, pre-1700 heamly, pre-1700 hemlie, pre-1700 heymlye, 1800s hemly (Shetland), 1900s– hyimly (southern), 1900s– hyimmly (southern). Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: home n.¹, -ly suffix¹. Etymology: < home n.¹ + -ly suffix¹. Compare Middle Dutch heimelīke , heimelijk of or belonging to a household or home, familiar, friendly, intimate (Dutch heimelijk : see below), Middle Low German hēmelīk friendly, intimate (see also note below), Old High German heimlīh of or belonging to a person's own country (Middle High German heimelich , heimlich of or belonging to a person's own country, familiar, intimate, German heimlich : see below); also ( < Middle Low German) Old Danish hemmelig , hiemmelig intimate, private (Danish hemmelig : see below; Danish hjemlig , †hjemmelig ‘of or belonging to a household or home’ (18th cent.) is an independent formation after German heimlich ), Old Swedish hemeliker , hemelikin , hemelig of or belonging to a household or home (Swedish hemlig : see below). Compare homely adv.In several cognate Germanic languages, the parallel adjective shows a different semantic development from ‘private’ to ‘secret, clandestine’ or ‘mysterious’. Such senses exist (and are the chief or even only senses in later use) in Old Frisian hēmelik, heimelik, hēmlik (West Frisian heimelik, heimlik), Middle Dutch heimelīke, heimelijk (Dutch heimelijk), Middle Low German hēmelīk, Middle High German heimelich, heimlich (German heimlich), Danish hemmelig, Swedish hemlig. Forms showing u in the first syllable or medial -b- are perhaps influenced by association with humble adj. 1. Of or belonging to a household or home. Also: of or belonging to a person's own country or native land. rare after 16th cent. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > [adjective] > of or belonging to home homelyc1384 householdc1384 meniala1387 hamald?a1400 domestical1459 home1552 householdly1557 homish1561 housal1611 domestica1616 domal1728 fireside1740 householdy1863 hearthrug1864 c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. x. 36 The enmyes of a man ben his homly meynee. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1210 (MED) He gef vus to be his homly hyne. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1373 Many homly [Fr. domesches] trees ther were That peches Coynes and apples beere. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gal. vi. 10 To alle men; but most to hem that ben homliche of the feith. a1555 H. Latimer 27 Serm. (1562) ii. f. 126^v I heard say, that there were some homelye theeues, some pyckers in this worshipfull house. 1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1878) iii. vii. ii. 44 Dogs of the homelie kind, are either shepheards, curs, or mastiffes. 1621 Greeuous Grones for Poore 21 The Fisherman-like Diuell..will drawe the Hookes of death, pull them from their fellowes, carrie them to his homely Hell. c1839 T. E. Wilks Ben Boatswain i. ii. 11 He has sent this man hither to seize my homely goods. 1875 M. R. Pilon Yanko-Sequor II. v. 74 We will be richer in wool, cotton, wheat,..with our homely money to give activity to all trades. 1907 F. C. Kempson Future Life & Mod. Diffic. viii. 123 We have among our homely possessions a box of small shells, which we use as counters in family games of cards. 2. a. Characteristic or suggestive of a home (esp. a modest one) or of domestic life; ordinary, everyday; simple, plain, unsophisticated; rough, rustic. In later use also (chiefly British, of a place or its atmosphere, etc.): cosy, comfortable.In this and in sense 2b used both depreciatively, implying lack of elegance or refinement, and as a term of approbation, implying lack of ostentation or pretentiousness. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > [adjective] > homely or rustic homelya1387 uplandisha1387 hamald?a1400 rustical1483 agrestc1550 fustianc1550 homespun1590 russet1598 agrestic1617 raplocha1628 Adamitic1656 russet-coated1683 rustic1738 turnipy1792 countrified1875 corny1932 bakya1960 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 281 (MED) Hit is homeliche oþerwhile to a wise man for to pleie..to refresche hym self and to make hym more strong to dedes of vertues. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 135 Thanne hadde I with yow homly suffisaunce I am a man of litel sustenaunce. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos 1 Some gentylmen..desired me to vse olde and homely termes in my translacyons. 1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 164 Who can tell if suche men are worthe a groate, when their apparell is so homely? 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 112 Heir is bot hamelie fair. 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 96 The Buzzar in this Towne is but homely. 1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown xvii. §5 What Laughing, what Fleering, what Mocking of their homely Fashion would there be? 1727 D. Defoe Tour Great Brit. III. i. 71 Port Patrick has nothing in it to invite our Stay, 'tis a mean dirty homely Place. 1795 Gentleman's Mag. 65 607/2 The unfortunate King of Poland..lives in a very homely manner. 1814 Ld. Byron Corsair i. ii. 4 Earth's coarsest bread, the garden's homeliest roots. 1857 ‘W. Triton’ Fisher Boy (1858) viii. 118 The traders and the ship-captains..set an example of style, that quite upset the simple and homely notions prevalent in the neighborhood. 1877 E. M. A. Savage Let. 5 Dec. in H. F. Jones Samuel Butler (1919) I. xv. 261 ‘I like this place,’ she said, ‘it is so homely,’ and then she looked at me and said it was ‘so homely’, meaning, alas! shabby. 1915 J. O. Francis Change iv. 128 The women putting the water for them to wash, and laying the tea, and making the place nice and homely. 1922 A. M. W. Stirling William De Morgan & his Wife iii. 52 It was just a resuscitation of ordinary, homely events in that bygone life, realistic in its sheer triviality. 1934 Changing Men 25 There has been no homelier, happier place than the Woman's Shelter in High Street. 1956 R. Knox Window in Wall p. vii Since his time the touching, homely, rather anyhow little church..has twice had a change of rectors. 1971 Countryman Autumn 203/1 (advt.) Homely atmosphere, quality food, organically grown vegetables, log fires. 2001 FourFourTwo Aug. 127/1 Their usual retreat..was homely rather than opulent and the players appreciated the relaxed atmosphere. b. Of a person: of humble background; having a plain or simple nature; unsophisticated; rustic.See note at sense 2a. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [adjective] > unsophisticated plainc1425 homelyc1426 homespun1590 brown bread1606 unsophisticate1607 simple1613 uncompounded1615 uncourtlike1659 unsophisticated1665 russet-coated1683 buff1792 unvarnished1827 rube1898 cracker-barrel1933 haimish1957 bakya1960 c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 12 (MED) Hou homle hosbondusmen here hertis þai aryse. c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) ii. l. 43 Ȝe myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis. ?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) i. ii. 154 A pore homely laborynge man. 1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 5th Serm. sig. Ovii^v In his persuasions he is verye whomly. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. ii. 69 If you will take a homely mans aduice, Be not found heere. View more context for this quotation 1661 R. Boyle Some Considerations Style of Script. (1675) Ep. Ded. 6 As a homely digger may shew a man a rich mine. 1705 I. Norris in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1870) IX. 371 I beg excuse for being thus homely and plain. 1798 A. Schink tr. A. von Kotzebue Stranger iv. 51 Mrs. Smith, without doubt, is a good, homely, woman; but yet she is no angel neither. 1845 R. Browning Flight of Duchess xvi, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 19/1 Smooth Jacob still robs homely Esau. 1863 J. W. Carlyle Lett. III. 155 A dear little homely woman. 1908 J. London Martin Eden i. 2 You mustn't be frightened at us. We're just homely people. 1996 J. Updike In Beauty of Lilies iii. 299 Old Jimmy McMullen was a homely devil—always looked like a truck-loader in his tux. c. Esp. of a person: of plain appearance; unattractive. Now North American. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [adjective] > having specific appearance huedc1000 beseemeda1250 lookingc1330 well-faringc1330 well-beseenc1374 farranda1400 homely?a1439 ill-favoured1530 seeming1590 looked1597 ill-looking1633 complexioned1639 ill-lookeda1640 leonine1660 plain-looking1744 natural-looking1810 anthropoid1881 thuggish-looking1903 new look1950 a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. l. 2512 (MED) Raueynous foulis, ful homli in ther siht, Themsilff to feede vpon the corps aliht. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. i. 88 Hath homelie age th'alluring beauty tooke From my poore cheeke? View more context for this quotation 1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown xi. §10 Nothing is Homely in God's Sight but Sin. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Homely, ugly, disagreeable, course, mean. a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) III. viii. 211 She..was extremely deformed and homely. 1860 Ladies Repository May 285/2 A homely face, surely,..but there is a beautiful soul indwelling. 1886 E. Lynn Linton Paston Carew I. viii. 144 The homely vein running through her own four daughters, of whom not one was really pretty and some were really plain. 1911 G. M. Gould Magic of Dress xvi. 128 To the pretty girl, pride is poison; but to the homely girl, it is a tonic. 1960 Life 4 July 60/1 A good tailor might help him a little—but then you're still stuck with that homely face. 2002 Out Feb. 67/1 Even the homeliest old gringos have a couple of cute young twinks hanging around them. 3. a. With †to, with. Of a person or a person's manner: familiar; friendly; intimate. rare after 17th cent. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > intimate or familiar homelya1387 familiarc1405 familarya1500 internal1581 intrinsical1602 intimated1606 intrinsic1613 intimea1618 intimous1619 domestica1631 intimate1635 pack1686 thickc1756 throng1768 versant1787 solid1882 chummy1884 tutoyant1899 cosy1927 schmoozy1954 tight1956 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 7 Felix of..Burgoyn..had be homeliche [?a1475 anon tr. familier, L. familiaris] wiþ Sigebertus. c1400 Prose Versions New Test.: Gal. (Selwyn) (1904) vi. 10 (MED) Do we good to alle men, bote most to þilke þat beþ homlyche to þe bylefe [L. ad domesticos fidei]. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 13 Þei [sc. the apostles] were clepid..to be more homely wiþ him þan þei weren before. a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 156 Þat he [sc. Mortimer] was ouyr homeli with þe qween. c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 853 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 328 Þis man, þat vas hamely with hyme. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. H.ij This goode emperoure was..homely with euery man. 1588 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 239 Lyik as my predicessouris hes beine hamlie with ȝour predicessouris, sua meyn I..to continew in freindschip towardis ȝow. 1636 S. Rutherford Let. 6 July in Joshua Redivivus (1664) 476 Ye see your father is homely with you. 1695 E. Eizat Apollo Mathematicus 53 Jupiter having condemned him [sc. Endymion] to a perpetual Sleep, because he had been a litle too homely with Juno, she stole him away from him, and hid him in a Cave under a Mountain. a1713 A. Pitcairne Assembly (1722) iii. i. 47 If my Tenants were as impertinently homely with me, as they're with their Master, I should not bear it so patiently. 1854 G. Alexander Lilias xxxi. 176/1 They can afford to be homely with the like of us poor creatures, without the slightest danger of compromising their dignity. 1998 D. N. Das One World One Family v. 25 I felt more homely with the Romans..whom I met on the streets and in the hotel. b. Chiefly Scottish. Kind, kindly; courteous. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] mildeOE blitheOE goodOE well-willingOE beina1200 goodfulc1275 blithefula1300 faira1300 benignc1320 gainc1330 sweetc1330 kinda1333 propicec1350 well-willeda1382 well-disposeda1393 well-hearteda1393 well-willinga1393 friendsomea1400 well-willya1400 charitablec1405 well-willed1417 good-heartedc1425 kindlyc1425 honeyed1435 propitious1440 affectuousc1441 willya1449 homelyc1450 benevolous1470 benigned1470 benevolent1482 favourousc1485 well-meaned1488 well-meaning1498 humanec1500 favourablec1503 affectionatea1516 well-mindedc1522 beneficial1526 propiciant1531 benignate1533 well-intendeda1535 beneficious1535 kind-hearted1535 well-given1535 affectioned1539 well-wishing1548 figgy?1549 good-meaning1549 affectedc1553 affectionated1561 well-natured1561 well-affected?1563 officious1565 well-inclined1569 good-natured1582 partial1587 graceful?1593 well-intentioned1598 beneficent1616 candid1633 kindlike1637 benefic1641 kindly-hearted1762 well-meant1765 benignanta1782 sweet-hearted1850 c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich Revelations Divine Love: Shorter Version (1978) 49 (MED) Oure lord es so hamlye & so curtayse. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 42 He agayn with humyll, hamly cher Rasauit him. a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. l. 7050 Scho was suet and debonare, Curtasse, hamly, pleyssande and fayr. ?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 331 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 223 And with suete wordys hambly Reconfortit thame rytht hertly. 1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 166 Ye ne'er was donsie; But hamely, tawie, quiet an' cannie, An' unco sonsie. 1844 C. Long Sir Roland Ashton II. iii. 22 She rose, and walked by the sailor's side, who..strove with homely feeling to cheer her evident dejection. 1867 G. MacDonald Poems 20 Whom gentler, homelier feelings stir. 1924 M. Angus Tinker's Road 19 Wi' Patrick be hamely, Wi' Patrick be kind. c. Of things: familiar; well-known. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adjective] couthOE known1340 familiara1398 unstrangec1400 learnedc1420 conversant1430 beknown?c1475 well-beknown1480 quentc1540 well-kent1554 quainted1560 well-known1568 obversant1579 conversed1607 tame1609 familiarized1633 intimatea1680 household1761 homely1782 ole1835 old1898 1782 Town & Country Mag. Mar. 129/1 Opposition also of idea belongs to both: when remote to the farmer, when homely to the latter. 1889 H. R. Haggard Cleopatra i When the matter [she had heard] had become homely in her mind, and her fear had fallen from her, she spoke of the prophecy. 1981 C. Thomas Christianity in Rom. Brit. iii. 80 Not a line of the normal prayer-book service was followed..and the Rector twice played his guitar. Only the Lord's Prayer seemed homely. 2008 S. Dennis Christmas Island i. 61 We may enter buildings in our towns whose layouts will feel homely to us. Phrases P1. home is homely: see home n.¹ and adj. Phrases 2a. P2. as homely as a mud fence: see mud fence n. at mud n.¹ Compounds 2a. Compounds C1. Forming parasynthetic and complementary adjectives, as homely-featured, homely-looking, etc. ΚΠ 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth V. 174 Many of the more homely looking fowls are very deservedly preferred. 1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 252 Like homely-featured Night. 1864 A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 3) 99 Our farmers were then more homely-looking individuals than at present. 1886 H. C. Bunner Midge i. 15 Alphonsine, the homely-faced, good-natured apprentice of the house of Goubard. 1908 K. L. Jenner Our Lady in Art i. v. 63 Mary, a homely-featured peasant woman, is seated on a bench in the carpenter's shop. 1987 M. Hollis Cunning of Reason (1989) viii. 128 This homely-sounding truth has direct implications for economic theory. 2006 Philadelphia July 84/1 Tomatoes, thin-skinned, sometimes homely-looking, always delicious. C2. † homely man n. Obsolete a male domestic servant. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] hirdmanc993 hirdcnihtc1000 hirdcnavec1275 hirdswainc1275 hewea1350 officerc1375 homely mana1382 meniala1387 household servant1427 homely womana1500 domestical?c1550 comprador1615 domestic1623 spider-brusher1833 house help1837 domiciliary1844 hoghenhine1848 kitchen mechanic1861 home helper1864 home help1883 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xxxi. 15 She..ȝaf prei to hir homli men [a1425 L.V. meyneals; L. domesticis], and metis to hir hand wymmen. a1500 Promptorium Parvulorum (King's Cambr.) 245 Homliman, or woman, domesticus, domestica. † homely woman n. Obsolete a nun; (also) a female domestic servant. ΘΚΠ society > faith > church government > monasticism > nun > [noun] nuneOE sistereOE minchenOE nun-sisterOE spousea1200 ladyc1275 religious1340 clergess1393 homely womana1400 monialc1400 moinesa1513 sanctimoniala1513 vowess1533 nosegent1567 votaress1589 votress1597 monkess1602 White Lady1606 cloistressa1616 sanctimony1630 religiosea1657 clergywoman1673 religieuse1682 religioso1708 vestal1717 society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] hirdmanc993 hirdcnihtc1000 hirdcnavec1275 hirdswainc1275 hewea1350 officerc1375 homely mana1382 meniala1387 household servant1427 homely womana1500 domestical?c1550 comprador1615 domestic1623 spider-brusher1833 house help1837 domiciliary1844 hoghenhine1848 kitchen mechanic1861 home helper1864 home help1883 a1400 Ancrene Riwle (Pepys) (1976) 26 Þe fende scheteþ mo querels to homelich wymmen þan to an hundreþ leuedies in þe werlde. a1500 Promptorium Parvulorum (King's Cambr.) 245 Homliman, or woman, domesticus, domestica. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022). homelyadv. Brit. /ˈhəʊmli/, U.S. /ˈhoʊmli/ Forms: see home n.¹ and adj. and -ly suffix²; also Scottish pre-1700 hamille. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: home n.¹, -ly suffix². Etymology: < home n.¹ + -ly suffix². Compare Old Frisian hēmelike, heimlike (West Frisian heimelik, heimlik), Middle Dutch heimelīke, heimelijk (Dutch heimelijk), Middle Low German hēmeliken, Middle High German heimelīche, heimlīche (German heimlich).The words in other Germanic languages additionally show the sense ‘secretly, clandestinely’ early on; this is now the only current sense in West Frisian, Dutch, and German. Compare the etymological note at homely adj. 1. Plainly, simply; in an unsophisticated or unpretentious manner; roughly. Now rare (colloquial in later use). ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > [adverb] > in homely manner homelyc1390 homelily1556 the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adverb] > unmannerly > roughly or with lack of refinement homelyc1390 rudelyc1405 greata1425 swinishly1542 clubbishly1548 carterly1556 homelily1556 brutishly1580 loutishly1580 boorishly1605 brutely1605 inurbanely1610 mechanically1613 porterly1659 coarsely1678 coarse1680 brutally1824 vulgarly1831 crudely1881 cubbishly1883 yobbishly1984 the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adverb] > in unworkmanlike manner > with rough workmanship rudely?1507 homely1549 the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [adverb] unhendlya1225 uncourteously1338 rudelyc1405 rudec1460 roidlyc1480 homely1563 discourteously1572 uncivilly1577 indiscreetly1637 unhandsomely1662 incivilly1671 unpolitely1695 impolitely1736 incourteously1859 c1390 Pistel of Swete Susan (Vernon) l. 200 (MED) Homliche on hir heued heor hondus þei leyed. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 330 He rood but hoomly in a medlee coote. c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. l. 212 (MED) He drough him to an herne at þe halle ende, Well homelich yhelid in an holsum gyse. 1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie sig. Cviii Homlyes..maye be well called, for they are homely handeled. 1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1077/1 Of these yeomen of the garde..the fourth (whose name was Homes) used him very homely, unkindly, and churlishelie. 1630 B. Jonson New Inne ii. i A bashful child, homely brought up, In a rude hostelrie. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 428 Thus..homely drest, He strides into the Hall. 1797 N.-Y. Mag. Feb. 103 Will Nature's children, homely clad, Or Friendship's voice sincere, Thy sympathetic bosom glad, or charm, as erst, thine ear? 1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 439/3 I had been ‘walking humbly and homely’ for some time, but this was too much for my Ebenezer; so I commenced to straighten up until I had all the kinks out of my back. 1971 G. Ewart Gavin Ewart Show i. 28 I am a bottle of wine..slup me rough and homely and I'll taste fine. †2. a. Familiarly, intimately. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adverb] couthc1000 familiarly1387 homelya1400 at home1841 the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adverb] > intimately or familiarly couthlyc900 wellOE homelya1400 commonlya1450 familiarlyc1450 domestically1576 inwardly1584 intimately1645 particularly1680 arm-in-armly1743 hand in glove1788 pack1874 a1400 (?a1325) Medit. on Supper of our Lord (Harl.) (1875) l. 275 (MED) Byholde how homely Ion lyþ slepyng On crystys brest, as hys derlyng. a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) l. 3554 (MED) Down he broght hir til his hows, Hamely als sho war his spows. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 245/1 Homly, or yn homly maner, Domestice, familiariter. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) iv. 1 Hamly he spekis til him. a1500 (?a1400) Tale King Edward & Shepherd (Cambr.) (1930) l. 1035 (MED) Drynk þe wyne As homely as i did of thyne. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iv. sig. C.j What..A nourse talke so homely with one of your worship? a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 328 Therfore Dauison enterit hamely with him and was maid his gossup. 1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xxxi. 34) 249 Presumptuous sinners deal as homely with the dear mercies of Almighty God. 1736 N. MacVicar Let. 31 Aug. in W. Steven Hist. Sc. Church (1833) v. 116 Those who know not the Reverend Mr. Mair are pleased to make homely with his character. b. Kindly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adverb] welleOE blithec1000 blithelyc1000 goodfullya1300 blethelyc1300 milthlyc1300 kindlya1375 benignlyc1380 en-gree14.. homelya1425 benevolently1532 benign1535 obsequiously?1536 kindly1581 kind1592 propitiously1600 kindlily1625 well-meaningly1645 obligingly1646 candidly1650 beneficentlya1717 kindly-like1716 good-naturedly1725 benignantly1791 kindheartedly1803 a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 177 (MED) Crist wolde..þe peple shulde gladly fede hem, and þei [sc. his disciples] shulden homly take þat þei founden. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) xviii. 546 His frendis yusgat curtasly He couth ressawe and hamely. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 47 I..him behaldis hamely with hertly smyling. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. ix. sig. Gg4^v There he was welcom'd of that honest syre, And of his aged Beldame homely well. View more context for this quotation †3. With reference to speech or writing: without reserve or circumlocution; plainly; directly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > plainness > [adverb] > straightforwardly or directly platc1375 in short and plainc1386 plaina1387 platlyc1390 in (also at, on, unto) (a, the) plainc1395 roundc1405 homelya1413 directly1509 roundly1528 point-blank1598 in good set termsa1616 broadly1624 crudely1638 plain downa1640 plumply1726 plumpa1734 squably1737 straightforward1809 unvarnishedly1824 pine-blank1834 blankly1846 squarely1860 straight out1874 straightforwardly1906 a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 1559 She nold not feyne But as his suster homly [c1430 Cambr. Gg.4.27 homeli] for to seyne. 1465 J. Russe in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 308 For-yeue me that I wryte thus boldly and homly to you. 1524 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 90 I amm sa bald to writ sa haymly to ȝour grace. 1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job (new ed.) 18 To what purpose is it set out vnto vs here so homely and after the maner of men? 1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 107 Yf he can accuse, lett him doe y^t homely. a1686 Earl of Anglesey King's Right of Indulgence (1688) 28 They..spoke homely of the Clergy, who assisted the Pope's proceedings, crying out upon these shrivled Ribbaulds. 1751 H. Mann Let. 10 June in H. Walpole Corr. (1960) XX. 58 I have represented the affair homely. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.a1382adv.c1390
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