Comely
adj.joyful, calmliterary
What it means
Pleasantly attractive in appearance, with a deliberately old-fashioned tone.
Reach for it when describing traditional visual appeal in literary or historical writing
A comely brick house stood behind rows of lavender and thyme.
Choose between these
6- everyday
you need a neutral modern description of appeal
not when Attractive lacks the antique, decorous coloring of comely.
- everyday
direct informal physical appeal is enough
not when The phrase sounds contemporary and blunt where comely adds period texture.
- warm
affection and pleasure accompany the judgment
not when Lovely is emotionally warmer and much broader than appearance.
- warm
delicate or conventional beauty is intended
not when Pretty can sound diminutive when the subject has dignified presence.
- formal
well-proportioned, substantial good looks are central
not when Handsome carries a stronger, more structured kind of beauty.
- literary
an archaic poetic register is fully intentional
not when Fair has several modern meanings and may confuse readers outside a literary context.
Said against
3- unattractive
- unsightly
- homely
It naturally appears in
3- comely appearance
The inn's comely appearance owed more to proportion than ornament.
- comely figure
A comely figure in a green coat greeted travelers at the gate.
- comely building
The comely building retained its carved oak doorway.
Where this comes from
Comely is current but uncommon and can sound archaic when applied to a person.
- merriam-webster, adjective sense 1 opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.