matronly
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
matronly (comparative more matronly, superlative most matronly)
- In the capacity of a matron; serving as a housekeeper or head nurse.
- The matronly woman cared for the sick orphan.
- Exuding the authority, wisdom, power, and intelligence of an experienced woman.
- ...the matronly upper arms girls know about life and love and losing... Janeane Garofalo
- Having the appearance of a mature woman, often of larger physical stature and somewhat unkempt or dowdy.
- Gone is her matronly gray frizzy hair and those bushy brows, frumpy frock and old lady pearls. [1]
[edit] Translations
in the capacity of a matron
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exuding authority, wisdom, power, and intelligence of an experienced woman
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having the appearance of a mature woman
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[edit] Adverb
matronly (comparative more matronly, superlative most matronly)
- (Can we verify(+) this sense?) In the manner of a matron.
- 1906, Gertrude Stein, Three Lives, page 166:
- The mother dressed matronly, in a bonnet and in black, always sat between her two big daughters, firm, directing, and repressed.
- 2004, Irene Kai, The golden mountain: beyond the American dream, ISBN 09744890-0-X, page 214:
- She was the same height and weight as Mother and had the same hairdo and dressed matronly like her. It was scary. She looked so much like Mother.
- 2011 May 25, Kellianne Sweeny, The One That Got Away, ISBN 978-1-4634-0906-7, page 106:
- “I had to dress matronly to get the position. I've had trouble with that before. I have actually been turned away for a position as stewardess because I was too pretty.”
- 1906, Gertrude Stein, Three Lives, page 166:
[edit] Translations
in the manner of a matron
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