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seemly - 5 dictionary results

seem⋅ly

  [seem-lee] adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, adverb
Use seemly in a Sentence
–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.
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. 2009.
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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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Seemly

Seem"ly\, a. [Compar.Seemlier; superl. Seeliest.] [Icel. s?miligr, fr. s?mr becoming, fit; akin to samr same, E. same; the sense being properly, the same or like, hence, fitting. See Seem, v. i.] Suited to the object, occasion, purpose, or character; suitable; fit; becoming; comely; decorous.

He had a seemly nose. --Chaucer.

I am a woman, lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons. --Shak.

Suspense of judgment and exercise of charity were safer and seemlier for Christian men than the hot pursuit of these controversies. --Hooker.

Syn: Becoming; fit; suitable; proper; appropriate; congruous; meet; decent; decorous.

Seemly

Seem"ly\, adv. [Compar. Seemlier; superl. Seemliest.] In a decent or suitable manner; becomingly.

Suddenly a men before him stood, Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad, As one in city or court or place bred. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : seemly
Spanish: decente,
German: schicklich,
Japanese: きちんとした
More Translations »

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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