dowdy

dowdy
dowdy1
dowdily, adv.dowdiness, n.dowdyish, adj.dowdyism, n.
/dow"dee/, adj., dowdier, dowdiest, n., pl. dowdies.
adj.
1. not stylish; drab; old-fashioned: Why do you always wear those dowdy old dresses?
2. not neat or tidy; shabby.
n.
3. a dowdy woman.
[1300-50; ME doude unattractive woman (of uncert. orig.) + -Y1 or -Y2]
Syn. 1. frumpy.
Ant. 1. fashionable, stylish.
dowdy2
/dow"dee/, n., pl. dowdies.
[1935-40; short form]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Dowdy — ist der Name folgender Personen: Bill Dowdy (* 1933), US amerikanischer Jazzschlagzeuger John Vernard Dowdy (1912–1995), US amerikanischer Politiker Wayne Dowdy (* 1943), US amerikanischer Politiker Diese Seite ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • dowdy — 1580s (n.), an aukward, ill dressed, inelegant woman [Johnson]; 1670s (adj.), perhaps a dim. of doue poorly dressed woman (early 14c.), of uncertain origin. The modern use of dowd (n.) is most likely a back formation from dowdy. If plaine or… …   Etymology dictionary

  • dowdy — dowdy·ish; dowdy; …   English syllables

  • dowdy — [dou′dē] adj. dowdier, dowdiest [< ME doude, an unattractive woman + Y2] not neat or stylish in dress or appearance; shabby n. pl. dowdies 1. a dowdy woman ☆ 2. PANDOWDY dowdily adv …   English World dictionary

  • Dowdy — Dow dy, a. [Compar. {Dowdier}; superl. {Dowdiest}.] [Scot. dawdie slovenly, daw, da sluggard, drab, Prov. E. dowd flat, dead.] Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress; vulgar looking. {Dow di*ly}, adv. {Dow di*ness}, n.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dowdy — Dow dy, n.; pl. {Dowdies}. An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman. Shak. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dowdy — *slatternly, frowzy, blowsy Analogous words: slovenly, *slipshod, unkempt, disheveled, sloppy Antonyms: smart (in dress, appearance) Contrasted words: fashionable, *stylish, modish, chic: flashy, *gaudy, garish …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • dowdy — [adj] poorly dressed; old fashioned antiquated, archaic, baggy, bedraggled, blowsy*, bygone, dated, dingy, drab, dull, frowzy*, frumpy*, homely, moldy, old hat*, outdated, outmoded, out of date, passé, plain, run down, scrubby*, shabby,… …   New thesaurus

  • dowdy — ► ADJECTIVE (dowdier, dowdiest) ▪ (especially of a woman) unfashionable and dull in appearance. DERIVATIVES dowdily adverb dowdiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • dowdy — I. noun (plural dowdies) Etymology: diminutive of dowd dowdy, from Middle English doude Date: 1581 archaic a dowdy woman II. adjective (dowdier; est) Date: 1676 1. no …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Dowdy — Wikipedia does not have an encyclopedia article for Dowdy (search results). You may want to read Wiktionary s entry on dowdy instead.wiktionary:Special:Search/dowdy …   Wikipedia

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