| Library / English Dictionary |
GIRLISH
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Befitting or characteristic of a young girl
Example:
a dress too schoolgirlish for office wear
Synonyms:
girlish; schoolgirlish
Classified under:
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:
"Such fun! Only see! A regular note of invitation from Mrs. Gardiner for tomorrow night!" cried Meg, waving the precious paper and then proceeding to read it with girlish delight.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I could not forget how my mother had thought that she felt her touch her pretty hair with no ungentle hand; and though it might have been altogether my mother's fancy, and might have had no foundation whatever in fact, I made a little picture, out of it, of my terrible aunt relenting towards the girlish beauty that I recollected so well and loved so much, which softened the whole narrative.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
She had her girlish ambitions and hopes, and felt some disappointment at the humble way in which the new life must begin.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Meg knew Sallie and was at her ease very soon, but Jo, who didn't care much for girls or girlish gossip, stood about, with her back carefully against the wall, and felt as much out of place as a colt in a flower garden.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
She walked up and down the long saloon while waiting for Laurie, and once arranged herself under the chandelier, which had a good effect upon her hair, then she thought better of it, and went away to the other end of the room, as if ashamed of the girlish desire to have the first view a propitious one.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Mrs. March glanced at Meg, who was looking very pretty in her gingham morning gown, with the little curls blowing about her forehead, and very womanly, as she sat sewing at her little worktable, full of tidy white rolls, so unconscious of the thought in her mother's mind as she sewed and sang, while her fingers flew and her thoughts were busied with girlish fancies as innocent and fresh as the pansies in her belt, that Mrs. March smiled and was satisfied.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
She had her doubts about it from the beginning, for her lively fancy and girlish romance felt as ill at ease in the new style as she would have done masquerading in the stiff and cumbrous costume of the last century.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
