Englishladylike
Definition
- : of a kind traditionally considered suitable to or attractive for a woman //Mrs. Douglas arrived for the March 1st meeting at park headquarters wearing her white spring coat, her ladylike Panama hat, and a single strand of white beads. — Dava Sobel //Yves Saint Laurent gives a perfectly proper, ladylike suit a powerful punch by cutting it in python. — The New York Times Magazine //Charlotte, who is known to be a tomboy, topped off her ladylike look with a matching bow in her hair. — Aurora Bosotti
- : having or showing the appearance or good manners traditionally associated with aristocratic women //her polite, ladylike mother //ladylike elegance //… it didn't seem quite ladylike to say something like that, straight out. — Katherine Paterson //Jill was putting ladylike bites of turnip in her mouth and washing them down with long, quiet sips of water. — Molly Tripp
- : feeling or showing too much concern about elegance or propriety //This plot turns on the sisters' ladylike reluctance to examine the question of their kittens' sex too directly … — June Howard
- : having qualities traditionally associated with a woman : womanly //And Vincent hired a voice coach to teach her to talk like a guy … . Ned also came with a dusting of fake stubble for Vincent's smooth, pink, ladylike cheeks … — Lev Grossman //Each step he takes, delicate, cautious, even ladylike, the step, perhaps, of a man whose eyesight is not altogether reliable … — Robert Kantwell
First Known Use
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 2ladylike
adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms
- as in gentlemanly, civilizedSynonyms & Near Synonyms
- as in feminine, girlishSynonyms & Near SynonymsAntonyms & Near Antonyms