English Meaning & Definitions
Having a stout, somewhat fat, or corpulent body; often used to describe a person of a dignified or imposing appearance.
- โThe portly gentleman adjusted his waistcoat before stepping onto the stage.โ
- โHe was a portly man with a jolly laugh and a penchant for fine dining.โ
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โportlyโ.
Derived from the Middle English 'port' (meaning carriage, bearing, or demeanor) combined with the suffix '-ly'. Originally, in the 15th century, it meant 'having a dignified or imposing appearance.' Over time, the meaning shifted from a general sense of 'stately' to specifically describing a person who is stout or corpulent, as a large frame was historically associated with an imposing presence.
Think of a 'portly' person as someone who carries themselves like a 'port'โlarge, sturdy, and able to handle a lot of cargo.
Frequently Asked Questions About โportlyโ
1. What is the meaning of โportlyโ in English?
In English, portly (adjective) is defined as: โHaving a stout, somewhat fat, or corpulent body; often used to describe a person of a dignified or imposing appearance.โ.
2. How do you use โportlyโ in a sentence?
โThe portly gentleman adjusted his waistcoat before stepping onto the stage.โ
3. What are English synonyms of โportlyโ?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of โportlyโ?
Derived from the Middle English 'port' (meaning carriage, bearing, or demeanor) combined with the suffix '-ly'. Originally, in the 15th century, it meant 'having a dignified or imposing appearance.' Over time, the meaning shifted from a general sense of 'stately' to specifically describing a person who is stout or corpulent, as a large frame was historically associated with an imposing presence.
๐ฌ๐งMore English Words to English
View all English words โThe base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.