comely

[ kuhm-lee ]

adjective

, come·li·er, come·li·est.

1. pleasing in appearance; attractive; fair:

   a comely face.

   Synonyms: personable, good-looking, beautiful, handsome, pretty

2. proper; seemly; becoming:

   comely behavior.

comely

/ ˈkʌmlɪ /

adjective

1. good-looking; attractive

Derived Forms

• ˈcomeliness, noun

Other Words From

• come·li·ly adverb
• come·li·ness noun
• un·come·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comely¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English cumli, Old English cȳmlīc “lovely,” equivalent to cȳme “exquisite” (cognate with Middle High German kūme “weak, tender,” German kaum (adverb) “with difficulty,” Old High German kūmo ) + -līc -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of comely¹

Old English cӯmlīc beautiful; related to Old High German cūmi frail, Middle High German komlīche suitably

Example Sentences

Both Bolts sport the same offbeat design, full of comely creases and large windows for an airy interior.

From Washington Blade

Here in Miami in the last winter of Sam Cooke’s life, Lady Freedom is one comely, age-altering, miracle of a figure, with a strong back and a clean mouth perfect for kissing.

From The Daily Beast

Our biggest network comedy stars have almost all had a trim figure and a comely face.

From The Daily Beast

Shortly after midnight, she and her comely 21-year-old daughter, Beatrice, disappeared.

From The Daily Beast

She turned her comely face to him and he saw smiles round her lips and laughter in her eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Her comely face contrasted pleasantly with the full chin, which bore a trace of the commanding expression of her mother.

From Project Gutenberg

Not (one would say) from either his father or his mother, who were both, to judge from their portraits, very comely persons.

From Project Gutenberg

In due time Mr. Chittenden returned, accompanied by a comely mulatto woman about forty years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

The specimens of type and the woodcuts you have shown me promise a very comely little book.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• good-looking
• winsome