ladylike

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Of or related to the appearance or behaviour of a well-mannered woman.

   • Coniux imperioſa. Ouidius. A ladylike wife that will be obeyed. […] Dura domina, imperioſa. Cic. A rigorous and ladilike dame that will be obeyed.
   • Is it ladylike to giggle? / Is it ladylike to wink? / Is it ladylike to ride a horse astraddle? / Is it ladylike to wiggle? / Is it ladylike to drink? / Is it ladylike upon the beach to paddle? […]
   • Pirates, these women, with their ladylike briefcases for the loot and their horsy, acquisitive teeth.
2. 2

   In the manner of a lady.

   • Mirrin had lifted her second cup of tea, holding it, ladylike, with finger and thumb of her right hand while her left palm supported the saucer.
   • Men prefer feminine women, and there’s nothing feminine about hippos. They can’t walk ladylike, they can’t sit ladylike, and God forbid they should have to run!
   • So they sent me to an aunt who’d married off the water and kept a shop in Islington. She was kind enough, in her way. Taught me to speak ladylike . . . well, ladylike enough to pass in the shop.

The neighborhood

• neighboryoung-lady-like