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seemly

 - 3 dictionary results

seem⋅ly

  [seem-lee] adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, adverb
–adjective
1. fitting or becoming with respect to propriety or good taste; decent; decorous: Your outburst of rage was hardly seemly.
2. suitable or appropriate; fitting: a seemly gesture.
3. of pleasing appearance; handsome.
–adverb
4. in a seemly manner; fittingly; becomingly.
Use seemly in a Sentence
Origin:
1175–1225; ME semely < ON sæmiligr honorable; deriv. of sœmr (see seem )

Related forms:
seem⋅li⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. right, proper, appropriate, meet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To seemly
seem·ly   (sēm'lē)   
adj.   seem·li·er, seem·li·est

  1. Conforming to standards of conduct and good taste; suitable: seemly behavior.

  2. Of pleasing appearance; handsome.

adv.  In a seemly manner; suitably.

[Middle English semely, from Old Norse sɶmiligr, from sɶmr, fitting; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots.]
seem'li·ness n.
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

seemly  (adj.)
"of pleasing or good appearance," c.1225, from O.N. soemiligr, from soemr (see seem).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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