Lovely

Pronunciation

• enPR: lÅ­v′lÄ“, IPA: /ˈlÊŒvli/

From Middle English lovely, luvelich, lufli, from Old English luflīc ("amiable, loving, lovable"), equivalent to love + -ly.

Full definition of lovely

Adjective

1. Beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner.It's a lovely day and the sun is shining.The music box plays a lovely melody.The castle garden enchants visitors with its lovely blooms.
• Robert of BrunneNot one so fair of face, of speech so lovely.
2. Very nice, wonderful.It would be lovely to have a little more money to spend.
3. (obsolete) Inspiring love or friendship; amiable.
• Shakespearea most lovely gentlemanlike man
4. (obsolete) Loving, filled with love.
• ChaucerMany a lovely look on them he cast.
• Shakespearea lovely kiss

Synonyms

• lovable
• lovesome
• loving

Derived terms

• lovelily
• loveliness

Related terms

• loverly
• lovingly

Noun

1. An attractive, lovely person, especially a (professional) beauty.a calendar depicting young lovelies in bikinis
2. Term of fond address.Goodbye, my lovely.
3. A lovely object.

Synonyms

• (an attractive, lovely person) pretty, darling

From Middle English lovely, loflik, from Old English loflīc ("fit to be praised, laudable"), equivalent to lofe + -ly. Cognate with Dutch loffelijk ("laudable, praiseworthy"), German löblich ("commendable, laudable, praiseworthy"), Swedish lovlig ("permissible"). More at lofe, love.

Adjective

1. Worthy to be praised.

Anagrams

• volley