comely

adj

1. (literary, poetic)Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.

   “a comely woman”

   “Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, / But boaſt themſelves more comely than before”

   “This is properly Venus, Beauty, vvhich kindles the fire of Love in Mankinde: […] VVe ſee many perſons exact, and unaccuſtomable in every part, deſtitute of this grace and comlineſſe; others leſſe perfect in thoſe particular conditions, excellently graceful and comely; […]”

   “He that is comely, when old and decrepit, ſurely was very beautiful, when he was young.”

2. (literary, poetic)Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.

   “I neuer tempted her vvith vvord too large, / But as a brother to his ſiſter, ſhevved / Baſhfull ſinceritie, and comelie loue.”

   “This is a happier and more comely time, / Then vvhen theſe Fellovves ran about the ſtreets, / Crying Confuſion.”

   “Praiſe ye the Lord: for it is good to ſing praiſes vnto our God: for it is pleaſant, and praiſe is comely.”

   “Behold hovv comely and good a thing it is for brethren to liue together in vnion: […]”

3. (literary, poetic)Attractive; visually pleasing; good-looking.

   “In ſhootinge at the prickes, haſtye and quicke drawinge is neyther ſure nor yet comely.”

4. (literary, obsolete, poetic)Pleasing to the feelings or senses; agreeable, nice, pleasant.

   “Oh hovv comely it is and hovv reviving / To the Spirits of juſt men long oppreſt! / VVhen God into the hands of thir deliverer / Puts invincible might”

   “[T]hey said many kind and comely things about the people they had met.”

verb

1. (literary, obsolete, poetic, rare, transitive)To embellish or grace (something).

   “One diligent seruiture, skilfull to waight, / more comelieth thy table than other some eight, / That stand for to listen, or gasing about, / not minding their dutie, within nor without.”

adv

1. (archaic, literary, poetic)Synonym of comelily (“in a comely manner: in an attractive or pleasing manner; in a manner which meets accepted moral or social norms”).

   “So ſlides he dovvne vppon his greyned bat [i.e., a walking stick]; / And comely diſtant ſits he by her ſide, […]”

   “T'is very good to vvaſh his hands and face often, to haue faire linnen about him, to be decently and comely attired, for ſordes vitiant, naſtineſſe defiles, & deiects any man that is ſo voluntarily, or compelled by vvant, it dulleth the ſpirits.”

   “So may men praiſe their Preacher, he ſpeaks pertinently, or he contrives vvittily, or he ſpeaks comely, […]”