Seemely

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Appropriate and fitting for the occasion, conforming to what is considered proper behavior or manners
2. Becoming and suitable in conduct or appearance, in keeping with accepted standards of good taste
3. Archaic term describing something proper, decent, and in good form according to custom or propriety

Etymology: "Seemely" is an archaic English adjective meaning fitting, proper, or becoming in manner. It is formed from "seem" plus the suffix "-ly," which turns the root into an adjective meaning "having the appearance or quality of." The root "seem" itself goes back to Old English "sēman," meaning "to be fitting" or "to honour," and only later took on the sense of appearing to be. So the word's original sense was closer to "fitting" than to "looking like." The adjective is attested in Middle English and was in use for several centuries, appearing in religious and courtly writing, where it described conduct suited to a person's station. Its older sense of "fitting" survives in the related word "seemly," which is the form that became standard. The two spellings refer to the same word, and "seemely" is now found mainly in older texts and deliberate archaisms.

Synonyms: seemly, decorous, becoming, proper, fitting

Antonyms: unseemly, improper, indecorous