shabby

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Of clothing, a place, etc.

   Of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect; scruffy.

   • They lived in a tiny apartment, with some old, shabby furniture.
   • [A]s there was a stream of people pouring into a shabby house not far from the entrance, he waited until they had made their way in, […]
   • [C]ommonplace books are generally new, or at least in fine bindings. And here was a shabby little old book, such as, if it had been commonplace, would not have been likely to be the companion of a young lady at the bottom of a quarry— […]
2. 2

   Of a person

   Of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing.

   • The fellow arrived looking rather shabby after journeying so far.
   • She told her name, and vvas ſhevvn, by a little ſhabby foot-boy, into a parlour.
3. 3

   Of a person, their behaviour, etc.

   Of a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean; also, not generous; stingy, tight-fisted.

   • shabby treatment
   • It was voted a shabby excuse.
4. ›+ 3 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Poor in quality

      Poor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.

      • His painting is not too shabby.
      • [M]y Lord Duke's entertainments were both ſeldom and ſhabby […]
      • So unlooked-for a paradox required to be defended by the strongest arguments: who, then, would expect such shabby, not arguments, but hints of arguments, as the author presents us with?
   2. 5

      To make (something) shabby (adjective sense 1)

      To make (something) shabby (adjective sense 1); to shabbify.

   3. 6

      To become shabby

      To become shabby; to shabbify.

      • You'll be one of those tough, square, solid middle-aged men, like a shabbying brown bear, your golden crew-cut greying judiciously at the temples.

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