different between orderly vs serious

English

Alternative forms

• ordrely (obsolete)

Etymology

From order +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /???d?li/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???d?li/
• Hyphenation: or?der?ly

Adjective

orderly (comparative more orderly, superlative most orderly)

1. Neat and tidy; possessing order.

   He has always kept an orderly kitchen, with nothing out of place.

2. Methodical or systematic.

   We live in an orderly universe, where rules govern both the movements of planets and the binding of molecules.

3. Peaceful; well-behaved.

   An orderly gathering of citizens stood on the corner awaiting the bus.

4. Being on duty; keeping order; conveying orders.

Synonyms

• (possessing order): regular, trim, well-kept; see also Thesaurus:orderly
• (methodical or systematic): See also Thesaurus:methodical

Derived terms

• orderliness

Translations

Noun

orderly (plural orderlies)

1. A hospital attendant given a variety of non-medical duties.
2. A soldier who carries out minor tasks for a superior officer.

Translations

Adverb

orderly (comparative more orderly, superlative most orderly)

1. (now rare) According to good order or practice; appropriately, in a well-behaved or orderly (adjective) way. [from 15th c.]
   • 1991, Chor-San Heng Khoo, Physics of Liquid Crystalline Materials, CRC Press (?ISBN), page 33:

     Phase R: the rods are linked three by three and form planar twodimensional hexagonal networks. In both cases, the networks are orderly stacked in a three-dimensional lattice.

   • 2014, Huei-Huang Lee, Finite Element Simulations with ANSYS Workbench 15: Theory, Applications, Case Studies, SDC Publications (?ISBN), page 191:

     The rectangles are orderly stacked with the topmost rectangle representing the most visible entity and subsequent rectangles representing entities underneath the mouse cursor, front to back.

2. (obsolete) In order; in a particular order or succession; with a suitable arrangement. [15th-19th c.]
   • 1567, Arthur Golding, translating Ovid, Metamorphoses, I:

     The earth from heaven, the sea from earth, he parted orderly, / And from the thicke and foggie ayre, he tooke the lightsome skie.

   • 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, in Kupperman 1988, p.149:

     And in the Tombe which is an arch made of mats, they lay them orderly.

Synonyms

• (in order): methodically, systematically; see also Thesaurus:methodically

Anagrams

• ordrely

English

Etymology

From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin s?ri?sus, an extension of Latin s?rius (“grave, earnest, serious”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“heavy”). Cognate with German schwer (“heavy, difficult, severe”), Old English sw?r (“heavy, grave, grievous”). More at swear, sweer.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s???.i.?s/, [?si??.i.?s]
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??.?i.?s/
• Rhymes: -???i?s
• Homophones: cereous, Sirius (one pronunciation)

Adjective

serious (comparative more serious or seriouser, superlative most serious or seriousest)

1. Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition

   It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious, laugh so heartily.

   Synonyms: earnest, solemn

2. Important; weighty; not insignificant

   This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.

3. Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving

   After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.

   He says he wants to buy the team, but is he serious?

4. (of a relationship) Committed.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:serious

Antonyms

• (important, weighty): trifling, unimportant
• (intending what is said): jesting

Derived terms

• srs (abbreviation)
• dead serious
• seriously
• seriousness
• serious-minded
• serious-mindedly
• serious-mindedness

Translations

Adverb

serious (not comparable)

1. (colloquial, dialect) In a serious manner; seriously.

Further reading

• serious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• serious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.