lovely

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈlʌv.li/, [ˈlʌv.lɪi̯] Hyphenation: love‧ly === Etymology 1 === From Middle English lovely, luvelich, lufli, from Old English luflīċ, luflīc (“amiable, loving, lovable”), equivalent to love +‎ -ly. ==== Adjective ==== lovely (comparative lovelier, superlative loveliest) Delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace. Nice; wonderful. (obsolete) Inspiring love or friendship; amiable. (obsolete) Loving, filled with love. ===== Synonyms ===== beautiful charming lovable lovesome loving See also Thesaurus:beautiful ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== loverly lovingly ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== lovely (plural lovelies) (informal) An attractive, lovely person, especially a (professional) beauty. Synonyms: pretty, darling Term of fond address. A lovely object. ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English lovely, luveliche, from Old English luflīċe (“lovingly, amiably, kindly, dearly, with good will or love, willingly”), equivalent to love +‎ -ly. ==== Adverb ==== lovely (comparative more lovely, superlative most lovely) (informal) In a lovely fashion or manner; beautifully. === Etymology 3 === From Middle English lofly, lovely (“praiseworthy; laudatory”), equivalent to lofe +‎ -ly. Cognate with Dutch loffelijk (“laudable, praiseworthy”), German löblich (“commendable, laudable, praiseworthy”), Swedish lovlig (“permissible”). More at lofe, love. ==== Adjective ==== lovely (comparative lovelier or more lovely, superlative loveliest or most lovely) (archaic) Worthy of praise. === Anagrams === volley == Middle English == === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Old English luflīċ; equivalent to loven (“to love”) +‎ -ly (adjectival suffix). ==== Alternative forms ==== lofly, loveli, lovelich, loveliche, lovelie, lovelyche, lovly, lufely, luffly, lufli, lufly, luflych luflich, luvelich (Early Middle English) ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈluv(ə)liː/, /ˈluv(ə)lit͡ʃ/ ==== Adjective ==== lovely Friendly, affectionate, loving (providing love) Synonyms: lovable, lovesom Lustful, passionate; romantically or sexually charged. Lovely, attractive, pleasing. Synonym: lovesom ===== Derived terms ===== lovelyly luflynes unlovely ===== Descendants ===== English: lovely Scots: luely ===== References ===== “lǒvelī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. === Etymology 2 === Inherited from Old English luflīċe; equivalent to loven (“to love”) +‎ -ly (adverbial suffix). ==== Alternative forms ==== loffely, loveli, loveliche, lovelych, lovelyche, lovelye, lufly, luflych, luveli luveliche, luve-like (Early Middle English) ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈluv(ə)liː/, /ˈluv(ə)lit͡ʃ(ə)/ ==== Adverb ==== lovely Nicely, affectionately, lovingly (in a loving way) Synonym: lovelyly Eagerly, fondly, enthusiastically; with great passion. Lustfully, passionately; in a romantically or sexually charged way. Wonderfully, marvelously, amazingly. (rare) Courteously; in a well-mannered way. ===== Descendants ===== English: lovely ===== References ===== “lǒvelī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007. === Etymology 3 === ==== Adjective ==== lovely alternative form of lofly