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Definition of ungainly - 3 dictionary results

un⋅gain⋅ly

  [uhn-geyn-lee] adjective, -li⋅er, li⋅est, adverb
Use ungainly in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not graceful; awkward; unwieldy; clumsy: an ungainly child; an ungainly prose style.
–adverb
2. in an awkward manner.
Origin:
1150–1200; (adv.) ME ungeinliche, equiv. to un- un- 1 + later ME geyn straight, well-disposed, handy (< ON gegn straight, direct; cf. ON ūgegn unreasonable) + -liche -ly; (adj.) un- 1 + obs. gainly proper, becoming, gracious, ME gaynlych (geyn as above + -lych -ly ); cf. gainly, again

Related forms:
un⋅gain⋅li⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ungainly
un·gain·ly   (ŭn-gān'lē)   
adj.   un·gain·li·er, un·gain·li·est

  1. Lacking grace or ease of movement or form; clumsy.

  2. Difficult to move or use; unwieldy.


[un-1 + obsolete gainly, proper (from Middle English gainli, from gain, from Old Norse gegn, direct).]
un·gain'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

ungainly 
1611, originally "unfit, improper," from M.E. ungeinliche, from ungein (c.1400) "inconvenient" (from un- (1) "not" + O.N. gegn "convenient") + -like.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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