queenly

[ kween-lee ]

adjective

, queen·li·er, queen·li·est.

1. belonging or proper to a queen:

   queenly propriety.

2. befitting, or suggestive of, a queen:

   queenly grace.

adverb

1. in a queenly manner.

queenly

/ ˈkwiːnlɪ /

adjective

1. resembling or appropriate to a queen
2. having the rank of queen

adverb

1. in a manner appropriate to a queen

Derived Forms

• ˈqueenliness, noun

Other Words From

• queenli·ness noun
• un·queenly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of queenly¹

First recorded in 1530–40; queen + -ly

Example Sentences

Then she tosses the cake in the garbage bag on the housekeeping trolley with a queenly flourish, all without breaking her stride to the elevator.

From Salon

“You get knots, right?” could hardly be a tinier change, but many such changes, over many, many hours, smooth her annoyingly ellipsis-crowded writing into a natural, intimate spoken narrative — if always a queenly one.

From New York Times

Regal, queenly and majestic can sometimes register as standoffish or — gasp — going all Hollywood.

From Washington Post

In an atmosphere of lavish pomp and royal luxury, the queenly Sugar Plum Fairy presides over choreographed tributes by different groups of leaping, frolicking, food-bearing “ambassadors.”

From Washington Post

High and flinty, with a bone-deep coal-country drawl that refused to fade even as she ascended to a queenly position in the Nashville star system, her singing sliced through polished arrangements like a sharpened blade.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ceremonial
• elegant
• gracious
• grand
• imperial
• imposing
• luxurious
• magnificent
• massive
• opulent
• palatial
• solemn
• sumptuous
• towering