different between homely vs unhomely

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

un- +? homely

Adjective

unhomely (comparative more unhomely, superlative most unhomely)

1. not homely