Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Fit; suitable; convenient.
  • Good; gracious.
  • Well formed and agile; handsome: as, a gainly lad.
  • Directly; straightway.
  • Readily; handily; conveniently.
  • Fitly; suitably.
  • Very; exceedingly; thoroughly; well.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb obsolete Handily; readily; dexterously; advantageously.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Graceful; handsome.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective graceful and pleasing

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way.

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • His eyes opened wide behind his spectacles and, shoving aside a pair of young men pawing each other, broke into an un - gainly run.

    Second Skin Lustbader, Eric 1995

  • When she moved them, they flipped out of her less than gainly little grasp.

    Harpy Thyme Anthony, Piers, 1934- 1994

  • He accepted the bed gratefully, stripped away his un - gainly clothing, lay down, and was soon asleep.

    Juxtaposition Anthony, Piers 1982

  • He accepted the bed gratefully, stripped away his un - gainly clothing, lay down, and was soon asleep.

    Juxtaposition Anthony, Piers 1982

  • His hands and feet seemed to have reverted to their hobbledehoy clumsiness of some years back, in his pimply boyhood, but for all that, the look she gave him in departing made him feel tall, confident and gainly.

    The Leper of Saint Giles Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1981

  • Even his gait was becoming firmer and more gainly now he had a little more flesh on him and was eating regularly.

    The Leper of Saint Giles Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1981

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