different between homely vs informal

English

Alternative forms

• hamely (Scotland)

Etymology

From Middle English homly, hoomly, hamely (“domestic, familiar, plain”), from Old English *h?ml?c (“of the home, domestic”), from Proto-West Germanic *haimal?k (“of or characteristic of home”), equivalent to home +? -ly. Cognate with Scots hamely (“familiar, personal, private”), West Frisian heimelik, Dutch heimelijk (“secret, secretive, clandestine”), German heimlich (“secret, secretive, clandestine, undercover”), Danish hemmelig (“secret”), Swedish hemlig (“secret, concealed, privy, covert”), Faroese heimligur (“homelike, homey”), Icelandic heimlegur (“homely; worldly”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?h??mli/
• (US) enPR: h?m?l?, IPA^(key): /?ho?mli/
• Rhymes: -??mli
• Hyphenation: home?ly

Adjective

homely (comparative homelier or more homely, superlative homeliest or most homely)

1. Characteristic of, belonging to, or befitting a home; domestic, cozy. [from early 14th c.]
2. (Canada, US) Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.

   • There is none so homely but loves a looking-glass.

   Antonym: comely

3. (Britain dialectal) On intimate or friendly terms with (someone); familiar; at home (with a person); intimate.
4. (Britain dialectal, of animals) Domestic; tame.
5. (Britain dialectal) Personal; private.
6. (Britain dialectal) Friendly; kind; gracious; cordial.
7. (India) Conservative and family-oriented.

8. (archaic) Simple; plain; familiar; unelaborate; unadorned. [from late 14th c.]

Derived terms

• homely as a hedge fence

Translations

Middle English

Adverb

homely

1. Alternative form of homly

Adjective

homely

1. Alternative form of homly

English

Etymology

From in- +? formal.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n?f??m(?)l/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?f??m(?)l/
• Hyphenation: in?for?mal
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?l

Adjective

informal (comparative more informal, superlative most informal)

1. Not formal or ceremonious.

2. Not in accord with the usual regulations.

3. Suited for everyday use.

4. (of language) Reflecting everyday, non-ceremonious usage.
5. (horticulture) Not organized; not structured or planned.

Synonyms

• (not formal or ceremonious): casual
• (not in accord with the usual regulations): unofficial
• (suited for everyday use): casual
• (language: reflecting everyday, non-ceremonious usage): colloquial

Antonyms

• formal

Derived terms

• informality
• informally
• semi-informal

Translations

Anagrams

• formalin

Catalan

Etymology

in- +? formal

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /im.fo??mal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /im.fur?mal/

Adjective

informal (masculine and feminine plural informals)

1. informal

Derived terms

• informalment

Further reading

• “informal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Galician

Adjective

informal m or f (plural informais)

1. informal

Antonyms

• formal

Derived terms

• informalmente

Further reading

• “informal” in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega, Royal Galician Academy.

Portuguese

Adjective

informal m or f (plural informais, comparable)

1. informal (not formal or ceremonious)

Further reading

• “informal” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /info??mal/, [??.fo??mal]

Adjective

informal (plural informales)

1. informal

   Antonym: formal

Derived terms

• falacia formal
• informalidad
• informalmente

Further reading

• “informal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.