homely

adj

Etymology: From Middle English homly, hoomly, hamely (“domestic, familiar, plain, unattractive”), from Old English *hāmlīċ (“of the home, domestic”), from Proto-West Germanic *haimalīk (“of or characteristic of home”), equivalent to home + -ly. Cognate with Scots hamely (“familiar, personal, private”), West Frisian heimelik, Dutch heimelijk (“secret, secretive, clandestine”), German heimlich (“secret, secretive, clandestine, undercover”), Danish hemmelig (“secret”), Swedish hemlig (“secret, concealed, privy, covert”), Faroese heimligur (“homelike, homey”), Icelandic heimlegur (“homely; worldly”).

1. Characteristic of, belonging to, or befitting a home; domestic, cosy.

   “An interesting illustration of this is the way in which the English flower names which were in use till very recently are being ousted by Greek ones, snapdragon becoming antirrhinum, forget-me-not becoming myosotis, etc. It is hard to see any practical reason for this change of fashion: it is probably due to an instinctive turning-away from the more homely word and a vague feeling that the Greek word is scientific.”

   “Other homely details in the stories — preparing a salad, diapering a baby”

2. Lacking in beauty or elegance, plain in appearance, physically unattractive.

   “There is none so homely but loves a looking-glass.”

   “"I can't send a young, pretty girl, or for that matter even a homely one if you'd have her, on a job like this without telling her what to expect."”

3. On intimate or friendly terms with (someone); familiar; at home (with a person); intimate.

   “With all these men I was right homely, and communed with them long and oft.”

4. Domestic; tame.
5. Personal; private.
6. Friendly; kind; gracious; cordial.
7. Conservative and family-oriented.

   “I am seeking a beautiful homely girl for marriage.”

8. Simple; plain; familiar; unelaborate; unadorned.

   “a homely garment”

   “homely fare”