lowly
English
Etymology
From low + -ly; compare Middle English lowly.
Pronunciation
Audio (US): (file)
- Rhymes: -əʊli
Adjective
lowly (comparative lowlier, superlative lowliest)
- Not high; not elevated in place; low.
- 1918, C. J. Dennis, The Chase of Ages[1]:
- And I watched you waltz from tree to tree
As I slunk in my lowly lair
- 1697, John Dryden, translating Virgil, Aeneid[2]:
- And those whom Tiber's holy forests hide,
Or Circe's hills from the main land divide;
Where Ufens glides along the lowly lands,
Or the black water of Pomptina stands.
- Low in rank or social importance.
- 1725, Alexander Pope, translating Homer, Odyssey [3]:
- One common right the great and lowly claims.
- Not lofty or sublime; humble.
- 2010, David Dondero, Just a Baby in Your Momma's Eyes
- Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise.
Which at a lowly income none of us could ever really quite afford.
- Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise.
- 1697, John Dryden, Pastoral VI[4]:
- For all who read, and reading, not disdain / These rural poems, and their lowly strain
- 2010, David Dondero, Just a Baby in Your Momma's Eyes
- Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
- 1769, Bible (King James Version), Matthew xi. 29
- Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
- 1769, Bible (King James Version), Matthew xi. 29
Derived terms
Translations
not lofty or sublime; humble
Adverb
lowly (comparative more lowly, superlative most lowly)
- In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.
- In a low condition; meanly.
- At low pitch or volume.
- He muttered lowly.
Anagrams
Middle English
Adverb
lowly
- in a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly
- 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum x”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book XXI, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:
- And there was none of these other knyghtes but they redde in bookes and holpe for to synge Masse, and range bellys, and dyd lowly al maner of servyce.