unseemly

Definition

Inconsistent with established standards of good form or taste.

Etymology

From Middle English unsemli, probably a partial calque of Old Norse úsǽmiligr (“unseemly”); equivalent to un- + seemly. Cognate with Icelandic ósæmileg (“offensive”), Norwegian usømmelig (“unseemly”), Danish usømmelig (“unseemly”), German unziemlich.

Example Sentences

• "He was drunk and made some very unseemly comments."
• "Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on pilgrimage."
• "Secrets that few would like to scrutinise were bred and hidden in mountains of unseemly rags, masses of corrupted fat, and sepulchres of bones."

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