uncleanly

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English unclenlī, onclenlich, from Old English unclǣnlīc, equivalent to un- +‎ cleanly.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈklɛnli/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

Adjective

uncleanly (comparative more uncleanly, superlative most uncleanly)

1. Dirty, unhygienic, not clean.
   • 1907, Annual Report, Ohio. State Board of Health:

     Prosodemic typhoid from its nature may be disseminated in innumerable ways, but is more frequently found in slum districts, where the habits of the people are uncleanly, or in districts where there is no adequate sewerage.

2. Not pure in a moral or religious sense.

Synonyms

• unclean

Translations

not cleanly

• Latvian: netīrīgs

morally or religiously impure

• Latvian: nešķīsts, neķītrs

Etymology 2

From Middle English unclenly, onclenly, unclenely; compare Old English unclǣnlīce; equivalent to unclean +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈkliːnli/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

Adverb

uncleanly (comparative more uncleanly, superlative most uncleanly)

1. not in a clean way; in an unclean way

Translations

not cleanly

• Latvian: netīri

References

• “unclē̆nlī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Uncleanly”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes X, Part 1 (Ti–U), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 87, column 3.