gainly

G2A1I1N1L1Y4

adverb

Suitably; fitly; conveniently; readily.

Similar
graceful
Opposite
ungainly
OriginMiddle English gaynly →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

adverbgainly (comparative gainlier or more gainly, superlative gainliest or most gainly)

comparative gainlier · comparative more gainly · superlative gainliest · superlative most gainly

  1. Suitably; fitly; conveniently; readily.
  2. Thoroughly; completely; (with adjectives) very.
adjectivegainly (comparative gainlier or more gainly, superlative gainliest or most gainly)

comparative gainlier · comparative more gainly · superlative gainliest · superlative most gainly

  1. UKdialectalProper; suitable; becoming.
  2. archaicReady to help; kindly; gracious.
  3. Graceful; tactful.
  4. humorousattitude; or movement; attitude; or movementShapely; handsome.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
ungainly

adjectivegraceful and pleasing

Similar
graceful
Also see
graceful

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishgaynly
  2. Englishgainly

From Middle English gaynly, geȝȝnlike, geynliche, equivalent to gain (“straight, direct, convenient, favourable, kindly”, adjective) + -ly (adverbial/adjectival suffix).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

layingAylingLingyaLiyang
Cite this entry
APA

gainly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainly

MLA

“gainly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gainly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainly.

Source: gainly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.