Word forms: comparative comelier, superlative comeliest
adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A comely woman is attractive.
[old-fashioned]
More Synonyms of comely
comely in British English
(ˈkʌmlɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -lier or -liest
archaic
good-looking; attractive
Derived forms
comeliness (ˈcomeliness)
noun
Word origin
Old English cӯmlīc beautiful; related to Old High German cūmi frail, Middle High German komlīche suitably
comely in American English
(ˈkʌmli)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈcomelier or ˈcomeliest
1.
pleasant to look at; attractive; fair
2. Archaic
seemly; decorous; proper
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈbeautiful
Derived forms
comeliness (ˈcomeliness)
noun
Word origin
ME comli < OE cymlic < cyme, lovely, delicate, orig., feeble; akin to MHG kume, weak (Ger kaum, scarcely) < IE base *gou-, to cry out > Gr goaein, to groan, bewail
Examples of 'comely' in a sentence
comely
It stands higher than a tall man, generally taking the shape of a comely woman, though its form is fluid.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
And when he showed himself to the Princess, she found him as comely a youth as she had ever seen.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2001)
I am black but comely, she mouths to the night and the rain.
Neil Gaiman AMERICAN GODS (2001)
1 (adjective)
Definition
good-looking
(old-fashioned)
She was a comely woman with a mass of dark brown hair.
Synonyms
good-looking
She noticed him because he was good-looking.
pretty
She's a charming and pretty girl.
fair
beautiful
a beautiful red-haired woman
attractive
We are often drawn to attractive people.
lovely
You look lovely.
handsome
Her brother was a handsome young man
blooming
cute
graceful
Her movements were so graceful they seemed effortless.
becoming
Softer fabrics are much more becoming than stiffer ones.
pleasing
a pleasing view
wholesome
bonny (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
She was a bonny highland lassie.
winsome
She gave them a winsome smile.
buxom
fit (British, informal)
Opposites
homely
,
plain
,
ugly
,
unattractive
,
distasteful
,
repulsive
,
disagreeable
,
mumsy
2 (adjective)
(archaic)
a traveller comely of mien and clearly on a pilgrimage
Synonyms
proper
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
seemly
It wasn't seemly for them to be seen together.
fitting
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
fit
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
suitable
Was it really suitable behaviour for someone who wants to be taken seriously?
decent
After a decent interval they invited their new neighbours round for dinner.
decorous
The politician was wearing a suitably decorous expression.
Opposites
unpleasant
,
unfitting
,
unnatural
,
improper
,
unseemly
,
unbecoming
,
indecorous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attractive
Definition
appealing to the senses or mind
We are often drawn to attractive people.
Synonyms
seductive,
charming,
tempting,
interesting,
pleasing,
pretty,
fair,
beautiful,
inviting,
engaging,
likable or likeable,
lovely,
winning,
sexy (informal),
pleasant,
handsome,
fetching (informal),
good-looking,
glamorous,
gorgeous (informal),
magnetic,
cute,
irresistible,
enticing,
provocative,
captivating,
beguiling,
alluring,
bonny (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
winsome,
comely (old-fashioned),
prepossessing,
hot (informal),
fit (British, informal),
lush (slang)
in the sense of beautiful
Definition
being very attractive to look at
a beautiful red-haired woman
Synonyms
attractive,
pretty,
lovely,
stunning (informal),
charming,
tempting,
pleasant,
handsome,
fetching (informal),
good-looking,
gorgeous (informal),
fine,
pleasing,
fair,
magnetic,
delightful,
cute,
exquisite,
enticing,
seductive,
graceful,
captivating,
appealing,
radiant,
alluring,
drop-dead (slang),
ravishing,
bonny (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
winsome,
comely (old-fashioned),
prepossessing,
Butiful,
hot (informal),
fit (British, informal)
in the sense of becoming
Softer fabrics are much more becoming than stiffer ones.