gainly

[ geyn-lee ]

/ ˈgeɪn li /

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adjective

graceful; comely; handsome.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of gainly

First recorded in 1850–55; probably back formation from ungainly

OTHER WORDS FROM gainly

gain·li·ness, noun

Words nearby gainly

gainful, gaingiving, gain ground, gainings, gainless, gainly, gains, gainsay, Gainsborough, 'gainst, Gaiseric

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gainly in a sentence

He wanted quite desperately to love something staid and feminine and gainly and well bred, whatever its age!
The Martian|George Du Maurier
Jewel of beauty surpassing, passing before me,Gainly of gait as olifant-king.
Vidyapati Bangiya Padabali|Vidyapati Thakura

British Dictionary definitions for gainly

gainly

/ (ˈɡeɪnlɪ) obsolete, or dialect /

adjective

graceful or well-formed; shapely

adverb

conveniently or suitably

Derived forms of gainly

gainliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012