Why do Brits say homely for homey?

Britishers use homely to mean “cozy and homelike” whereas Americans use homey. In British English, homely means “simple, informal” whereas in American English homely means plain and unattractive.

What does homely mean in Old English?

From Middle English homly, hoomly, hamely (“domestic, familiar, plain”), from Old English *hāmlīc (“of the home, domestic”), from Proto-West Germanic *haimalīk (“of or characteristic of home”), equivalent to home +‎ -ly.

What does the British word proper mean?

5 chiefly British : utter, absolute. 6 : strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea the city proper. 7a : strictly accurate : correct. b archaic : virtuous, respectable. c : strictly decorous : genteel.

What is the British word for the American word apartment?

flat
British vs American Vocabulary

What does the word’homely’mean in English?

1. adjective If you describe a room or house as homely, you like it because you feel comfortable and relaxed there. Homely food is simple and ordinary. If you describe a woman as homely, you mean that she has a warm, comforting manner and looks like someone who would enjoy being at home and having a family.

Which is the best definition of the word homeliest?

lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive: a homely child. not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation. proper or suited to the home or to ordinary domestic life; plain; unpretentious: homely food.

Which is the best definition of the word home?

adjective, home·li·er, home·li·est. lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive: a homely child. not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation.

Which is the best definition of homeliness?

2 : being something familiar with which a person is comfortable and at ease : comfortable and familiar like home satisfy themselves with houses, furniture, books and clothes that were worn and homely and friendly to the touch— Brendan Gill.