English Dictionary

GIRLISH

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does girlish mean? 

GIRLISH (adjective)
  The adjective GIRLISH has 1 sense:

1. befitting or characteristic of a young girlplay

  Familiarity information: GIRLISH used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


GIRLISH (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Befitting or characteristic of a young girl

Synonyms:

girlish; schoolgirlish

Context example:

a dress too schoolgirlish for office wear

Similar:

immature; young ((used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth)

Derivation:

girlishness (being characteristic of a girl)


 Context examples 


So she made her wedding gown herself, sewing into it the tender hopes and innocent romances of a girlish heart.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He is better able to judge of it than I am; for I very well know that I am a weak, light, girlish creature, and that he is a firm, grave, serious man.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Amelia should be a small, light, girlish, skipping figure.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

As the evening grew late, Norton, smarting under the repeated charges of being a metaphysician, clutching his chair to keep from jumping to his feet, his gray eyes snapping and his girlish face grown harsh and sure, made a grand attack upon their position.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I thought you were pleased, once, with my being a little inexperienced and girlish, Edward—I am sure you said so—but you seem to hate me for it now, you are so severe.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She colored angrily, but took no other notice of that girlish sarcasm, and answered with unexpected amiability...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Kreis seemed to wake up and flash like some metallic, magnetic thing, while Norton looked at Martin sympathetically, with a sweet, girlish smile, as much as to say that he would be amply protected.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Can I say of her innocent and girlish beauty, that it faded, and was no more, when its breath falls on my cheek now, as it fell that night?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Remembering the painted boots, she surveyed her white satin slippers with girlish satisfaction, and chasseed down the room, admiring her aristocratic feet all by herself.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I could only sit down before my fire, biting the key of my carpet-bag, and think of the captivating, girlish, bright-eyed lovely Dora.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." (English proverb)

"Never reveal all that you know to others: They might become shrewder than you." (Bhutanese proverb)

"First think, then speak." (Armenian proverb)

"Away from the eye, out of the heart." (Dutch proverb)



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