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worldly

 - 3 dictionary results

world⋅ly

  [wurld-lee] adjective, -li⋅er, -li⋅est, adverb
Use worldly in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To worldly
world·ly   (wûrld'lē)   
adj.   world·li·er, world·li·est

  1. Of, relating to, or devoted to the temporal world.

  2. 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.
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

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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