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dowdy

 - 4 dictionary results

dow⋅dy

1  [dou-dee] adjective, -di⋅er, -di⋅est, noun, plural -dies.
Use dowdy in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not stylish; drab; old-fashioned: Why do you always wear those dowdy old dresses?
2. not neat or tidy; shabby.
–noun
3. a dowdy woman.
Origin:
1300–50; ME doude unattractive woman (of uncert. orig.) + -y 1 or -y 2

Related forms:
dow⋅di⋅ly, adverb
dow⋅di⋅ness, noun
dow⋅dy⋅ish, adjective
dow⋅dy⋅ism, noun

Synonyms:
1. frumpy.

Antonyms:
1. fashionable, stylish.

dow⋅dy

2  [dou-dee]
–noun, plural -dies.
apple pandowdy.
Origin:
1935–40; short form
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dowdy
dow·dy   (dou'dē)   
adj.   dow·di·er, dow·di·est

  1. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby: a dowdy gray outfit.

  2. Old-fashioned; antiquated.

n.   pl. dow·dies
A dowdy person; a frump.

[From Middle English doude, immoral, unattractive, or shabbily dressed woman.]
dow'di·ly adv., dow'di·ness n., dow'dy·ish adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dowdy 
1581 (n.), 1676 (adj.), probably dim. of doue "poorly dressed woman" (1330), of uncertain origin. The modern use of dowd (n.) is most likely a back-formation from dowdy. "If plaine or homely, wee saie she is a doudie or a slut" [1581].
"You don't have to be dowdy to be a Christian." [Tammy Faye Bakker, "Newsweek," June 8, 1987]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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