Definition of CHURCHLY

churchly

Adjective Satellite

  • resembling or suggesting or appropriate to a church
    • "the pure fragrance of churchly incense"

Adj

  • Pertaining to or relating to the church, its government, forms, or ceremonies; ecclesiastical.
  • Devoted to, or inclined to attach great importance to, the order and ritual of a particular section of the Christian church.
  • In accordance with ecclesiastical standards or ceremonies; appropriate for or befitting a church.
  • Characteristic of a church; churchy.

Adjective

  • Pertaining to, suitable for, or resembling a church.

Examples

  • His opponent’s CHURCHLY silence during critical moments was unnerving.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English *chirchely, *chirchelich, from Old English ċiriclīċ (“ecclesiastical”), equivalent to church + -ly. Cognate with Scots kirkly (“ecclesiastical”), Dutch kerkelijk (“ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical”), German kirchlich (“ecclesiastical, religious, ecclesiastic”), Swedish kyrklig (“ecclesiastical”). Compare also churchlike.

Scrabble Score: 21

churchly: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
churchly: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
churchly: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 22

churchly: valid Words With Friends Word