lowly en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈloʊli/ (General-American)
- /ˈləʊli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From low + -ly; compare Middle English lowly.
Meanings
-
Not high; not elevated in place; low.
And I watched you waltz from tree to tree As I slunk in my lowly lair
1918, C. J. Dennis, The Chase of Ages:And those whom Tiber's holy forests hide, Or Circe's hills from the main land divide; Where Ufens glides along the lowly lands, Or the black water of Pomptina stands.
1697, John Dryden, translating Virgil, Aeneid^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aeneid_(Dryden)):
-
Low in rank or social importance.
One common right the great and lowly claims.
1725, Alexander Pope, translating Homer, Odyssey^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Odyssey_(Pope)/Book_VIII):
-
Not lofty or sublime; humble.
Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise. Which at a lowly income none of us could ever really quite afford.
2010, David Dondero, Just a Baby in Your Momma's Eyes:For all who read, and reading, not disdain / These rural poems, and their lowly strain
1697, John Dryden, Pastoral VI:
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Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew xi:29:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lowlier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| lowliest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
lowlihood · lowliness · unlowly · lowlihead · lowlily
Synonyms
self-effacing · verecund · lowly · resigned · abased · nonhigh · modest · unpretentious · common · unpretentious · demure · meek · humble · ignoble · humble-hearted · plebeian · low · mild · poor · demure · diffident · nether · unhigh · modest
Translations (18)
fi matala (not high, notelevated in place) · de niedrig (low in social importance) · de demütig (having a low esteem of one's own worth) · fi alhainen (low in social importance) · de einfach (low in social importance) · fi vaatimaton (not lofty or sublime; humble) · sv blygsam (not lofty or sublime; humble) · ga íseal (not lofty or sublime; humble) · fi vaatimaton (having a low esteem of one's own worth) · ru ни́зко (not lofty or sublime; humble) · de niedrig (not high, notelevated in place) · sv ödmjuk (not lofty or sublime; humble) · de bescheiden (not lofty or sublime; humble) · sv anspråkslös (not lofty or sublime; humble) · fr humble (not lofty or sublime; humble) · la humilis (not lofty or sublime; humble) · ga uiríseal (not lofty or sublime; humble) · bg скромен (not lofty or sublime; humble)