lovely

lovely

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "lovely" is /ˈlʌv.li/.

• /ˈlʌv/

• /li/

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Word Form Variations

• Adjective: lovely (positive), lovelier (comparative), loveliest (superlative)

• Adverb: lovely (informal, less common than "beautifully" or "nicely")

• Noun: lovely (singular, informal, usually refers to a beautiful or charming person) - no plural in this informal sense.

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective

• Definition 1: Pleasantly attractive or delightful in appearance, character, or quality; beautiful or charming.

• Synonyms: beautiful, attractive, charming, delightful, pleasing, pretty, amiable

• Antonyms: ugly, unattractive, horrid, unpleasant, disagreeable, ghastly

• Definition 2: Very enjoyable or pleasant; wonderful.

• Synonyms: wonderful, delightful, enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing, agreeable, superb

• Antonyms: awful, terrible, unpleasant, dreadful, horrible, miserable

• Definition 3: (Used informally, especially in British English) Excellent or admirable.

• Synonyms: excellent, admirable, splendid, great, superb, fantastic

• Antonyms: poor, terrible, inadequate, unsatisfactory

Adverb

• Definition 1 (informal): In a very pleasing or delightful manner.

• Synonyms: beautifully, delightfully, nicely, excellently

• Antonyms: badly, poorly, unpleasantly, dreadfully

Noun

• Definition 1 (informal, often British English): A beautiful or attractive person, especially a woman.

• Synonyms: beauty, darling, dear, charmer, sweetheart

• Antonyms: beast, hag, monster, villain (in a contrasting sense)

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "She wore a lovely gown of deep emerald green, perfectly complementing her red hair." (Fictional example from a historical romance novel)

• "The author described the rolling hills and quiet streams, painting a picture of a truly lovely countryside." (From a travel memoir or descriptive prose)

• "Though the task seemed daunting, his team made lovely progress, finishing ahead of schedule." (Fictional example, informally indicating good progress)

Newspapers:

• "The couple held a lovely garden wedding at the Nairobi Arboretum, despite the unexpected drizzle." ("The Standard,")

• "The new art exhibition features a lovely collection of landscape paintings by local artists." ("Daily Nation,")

• "The weather forecast for the weekend promises lovely sunshine, perfect for outdoor activities." ("The Star,")

Online Publications:

• "Discover how to create a lovely, minimalist living space that promotes calm and well-being." (An article on a home decor blog, e.g., "Apartment Therapy,")

• "Our new review highlights the lovely user interface and seamless performance of the latest smartphone." (A tech review on "Engadget,")

• "This recipe for lemon drizzle cake is simply lovely – a perfect treat for any occasion." (A food blog, e.g., "BBC Good Food,")

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "What a lovely day!" (Charlize Theron as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, 2015, used ironically but has become iconic)

• Television Series: "You've made a truly lovely soufflé, a triumph of delicate technique." (A judge's comment on a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)

• Song Lyrics: "Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful?" (Stevie Wonder, "Isn't She Lovely," 1976)

• Video Games: (Descriptive text in an RPG) "The elven forest is a truly lovely place, full of sparkling rivers and ancient trees." (e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

• Podcasts: "Our guest shared some truly lovely anecdotes from her time working with chimpanzees in the wild." (A podcast host concluding an interview, e.g., "Stuff You Should Know")

General Public Discourse:

• "You look absolutely lovely tonight!" (A compliment on appearance)

• "We had a lovely time at the beach yesterday." (Describing an enjoyable experience)

• "That's a lovely idea, let's do it!" (Expressing approval or agreement)

• "Could you pass me that tea, lovely?" (Informal term of endearment, often British English)

• "The service at the new cafe was absolutely lovely." (Praising good service)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Lovely

1. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” – John Keats

2. “It's a lovely experience walking around a museum by yourself.” – Brad Pitt

3. “I've had a lovely life, and I really just want to be in good health so I can enjoy what I have.” – Ursula Andress

4. “It was a lovely day and the sun was shining. That always helps your mood.” – George Ezra

5. “What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.” – Ellen Burstyn

6. “Lovely days don’t come to you; you should walk to them.” – Rumi

7. “Isn’t it lovely to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” – L.M. Montgomery

8. “It’s a lovely feeling, being liked and appreciated.” – Rita Ora

9. “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale – and a lovely one.” – Hans Christian Andersen

10. “Lovely flowers are the smiles of God’s goodness.” – William Wilberforce

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Etymology

The word "lovely" comes from the Old English word luflīc.

• This Old English word was formed by combining two parts:

• lufu, meaning "love" (the same root as our modern "love").

• -līc, a suffix meaning "like" or "having the quality of" (related to our modern "-ly" and "like").

So, literally, luflīc meant "lovable" or "worthy of love."

The first known use of "lovely" in English, with the meaning of "beautiful," "pleasing," or "amiable" (someone or something that inspires love or admiration), dates back to before the 9th century (Old English period). It's an ancient word that has consistently described things or people that are attractive, charming, or delightful, making them "easy to love."

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Lovely

• Lovely jubbly: (British informal, outdated slang) Everything is great; excellent.

• Lovely weather for ducks: (Sarcastic) Used to describe very rainy weather.

• Having a lovely time: Enjoying oneself greatly.

• A lovely gesture: A kind and thoughtful act.

• Lovely to meet you: A polite greeting upon introduction.

• Lovely to see you: A polite greeting upon reunion.

• Lovely bit of kit: (British informal) A good piece of equipment or machinery.

• Lovely as a summer's day: Poetic description of something beautiful and pleasant.

• To paint a lovely picture: To describe something in an appealing or idealized way, perhaps not entirely accurately.

• A lovely surprise: An unexpected and delightful event or gift.

• A charming disposition: A pleasant and amiable personality. (Synonym for having a "lovely" character)

• A beautiful sight to behold: Something visually stunning. (Synonym for "lovely" appearance)

• A pleasant demeanor: A kind and agreeable manner. (Synonym for a "lovely" presence)

• Simply delightful: Absolutely pleasing. (Synonym for "lovely" experience)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of lovely from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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