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6 dictionary results for: worldly

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

world·ly

[wurld-lee] Pronunciation Key adjective, -li·er, -li·est, adverb

–adjective

1.	of or pertaining to this world as contrasted with heaven, spiritual life, etc.; earthly; mundane.

2.	experienced; knowing; sophisticated: the benefits of his worldly wisdom.

3.	devoted to, directed toward, or connected with the affairs, interests, or pleasures of this world.

4.	of or pertaining to the people or laity; secular; neither ecclesiastical nor religious.

5.	Obsolete. of, pertaining to, or existing on earth.

–adverb

6.	in a worldly manner (archaic except in combination): worldly-wise; worldly-minded.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE wor(u)ldlīc. See world, -ly

]

—Related forms

world·li·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. temporal. See earthly. 2. urbane, cosmopolitan.

—Antonyms 1. spiritual.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

world·ly (wûrld'lē) Pronunciation Key
adj. world·li·er, world·li·est

Of, relating to, or devoted to the temporal world.
Experienced in human affairs; sophisticated or worldly-wise: "an experienced and worldly man who had been almost everywhere" (Willa Cather).

adv. In a worldly manner.

world'li·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
worldly

O.E. woruldlic, from the roots of world and like (adj.). A common Gmc. compound (cf. O.Fris. wraldlik, O.S. weroldlik, M.Du. wereldlik, Ger. weltlich, O.N. veraldligr). Worldly-wise is recorded from c.1400.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

worldly
adjective
1.	characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world; "worldly goods and advancement"; "temporal possessions of the church" [ant: beguile]
2.	very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world; "the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as 'the pond'"; "the benefits of his worldly wisdom" [syn: blase]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Worldly

World"ly\, a. [AS. woroldlic.]

1. Relating to the world; human; common; as, worldly maxims; worldly actions. "I thus neglecting worldly ends." --Shak.

Many years it hath continued, standing by no other worldly mean but that one only hand which erected it. --Hooker.

2. Pertaining to this world or life, in contradistinction from the life to come; secular; temporal; devoted to this life and its enjoyments; bent on gain; as, worldly pleasures, affections, honor, lusts, men.

With his soul fled all my worldly solace. --Shak.

3. Lay, as opposed to clerical. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Worldly

World"ly\, adv. With relation to this life; in a worldly manner.

Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise By simply meek. --Milton.

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