different between lovely vs lovey

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: l?v?l?, IPA^(key): /?l?vli/

Etymology 1

From Middle English lovely, luvelich, lufli, from Old English lufl?c (“amiable, loving, lovable”), equivalent to love +? -ly.

Adjective

lovely (comparative lovelier, superlative loveliest)

1. Beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner.
   • 1915, Herman Cyril McNeile, The Lieutenant and Others

     His pink coat was lovely
2. Very nice, wonderful.
3. (obsolete) Inspiring love or friendship; amiable.
4. (obsolete) Loving, filled with love.

Synonyms

• beautiful
• charming
• lovable
• lovesome
• loving
• See also Thesaurus:beautiful

Derived terms

• lovelily
• loveliness
• unlovely

Related terms

• loverly
• lovingly

Translations

Adverb

lovely (comparative more lovely, superlative most lovely)

1. (informal) In a lovely fashion or manner; beautifully.

Noun

lovely (plural lovelies)

1. (informal) An attractive, lovely person, especially a (professional) beauty.

   Synonyms: pretty, darling

2. Term of fond address.
3. A lovely object.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English lovely, loveli, lofli, lovelike, lovelic (“praiseworthy; laudatory”), equivalent to lofe +? -ly. Cognate with Dutch loffelijk (“laudable, praiseworthy”), German löblich (“commendable, laudable, praiseworthy”), Swedish lovlig (“permissible”). More at lofe, love.

Adjective

lovely (comparative lovelier or more lovely, superlative loveliest or most lovely)

1. (archaic) Worthy of praise.

Anagrams

• volley

Middle English

Adjective

lovely

1. lovely: loving, filled with love

   • Many a lovely loke on them he cast.

English

Etymology

love +? -y

Noun

lovey (plural loveys)

1. (Britain) An informal mode of address (associated most often with actors and the like).
2. A baby's toy, blanket, or other object of affection
   • 2010, Elizabeth Pantley, The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution

     A lovey can be a comfort to your child and ease the pain of separation.

References

• lovey at OneLook Dictionary Search