Word Study
worldly
CIDE DICTIONARY
worldly, a. [AS. woroldlic.].
- Relating to the world; human; common; as, worldly maxims; worldly actions. Shak. [1913 Webster]"Many years it hath continued, standing by no other worldly mean but that one only hand which erected it." [1913 Webster]
- Pertaining to this world or life, in contradistinction from the life to come; secular; temporal; devoted to this life and its enjoyments; bent on gain; as, worldly pleasures, affections, honor, lusts, men. [1913 Webster]"With his soul fled all my worldly solace." [1913 Webster]
- Lay, as opposed to clerical. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
worldly, adv.
With relation to this life; in a worldly manner. [1913 Webster]
"Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise
By simply meek." [1913 Webster]
By simply meek." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
worldly, adj. (worldlier, worldliest)
1 temporal or earthly (worldly goods).
2 engrossed in temporal affairs, esp. the pursuit of wealth and pleasure.
1 temporal or earthly (worldly goods).
2 engrossed in temporal affairs, esp. the pursuit of wealth and pleasure.
Idiom
worldly-minded intent on worldly things. worldly wisdom prudence as regards one's own interests. worldly-wise having worldly wisdom.
Derivative
worldliness n.
Etymology
OE woruldlic (as WORLD, -LY(1))
THESAURUS
worldly
Philistine, banausic, blase, bodily, carnal, carnal-minded, corporal, corporeal, cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, disenchanted, disillusioned, down-to-earth, earthly, earthy, experienced, fleshly, hardheaded, hylic, knowing, material, materialistic, materiate, matter-of-fact, mature, matured, mondaine, mundane, nonsacred, nonspiritual, not born yesterday, old, physical, positivistic, practical, practical-minded, practiced, pragmatic, profane, rational, realist, realistic, reasonable, reprobate, ripe, ripened, sagacious, sane, scientific, scientistic, seasoned, secular, sensible, sensual, sober-minded, somatic, sophisticate, sophisticated, sound, sound-thinking, straight-thinking, substantial, tellurian, telluric, temporal, terrene, terrestrial, tried, tried and true, unblessed, unhallowed, unholy, unideal, unidealistic, unregenerate, unromantic, unsacred, unsanctified, unsentimental, unspiritual, veteran, world-wise, worldly-wiseROGET THESAURUS
worldly
Irreligion
N irreligion, indevotion, godlessness, ungodliness, laxity, quietism, skepticism, doubt, unbelief, disbelief, incredulity, incredulousness, want of faith, want of belief, pyrrhonism, bout, agnosticism, atheism, deism, hylotheism, materialism, positivism, nihilism, infidelity, freethinking, antichristianity, rationalism, neology, atheist, skeptic, unbeliever, deist, infidel, pyrrhonist, giaour, heathen, alien, gentile, Nazarene, espri fort, freethinker, latitudinarian, rationalist, materialist, positivist, nihilist, agnostic, somatist, theophobist, irreligious, indevout, undevout, devoutless, godless, graceless, ungodly, unholy, unsanctified, unhallowed, atheistic, without God, skeptical, freethinking, unbelieving, unconverted, incredulous, faithless, lacking faith, deistical, unchristian, antichristian, worldly, mundane, earthly, carnal, worldly minded, irreligiously.Selfishness
N selfishness, self-love, self-indulgence, self-worship, self-interest, egotism, egoism, amour propre, nepotism, worldliness, world wisdom, illiberality, meanness, time-pleaser, time-server, tuft- hunter, fortune-hunter, jobber, worldling, egotist, egoist, monopolist, nepotist, dog in the manger, charity that begins at home, canis in praesepi, foes to nobleness, temporizer, trimmer, selfish, self-seeking, self-indulgent, self-interested, self- centered, wrapped up in self, wrapt up in self, centered in self, egotistic, egotistical, egoistical, illiberal, mean, ungenerous, narrow-minded, mercenary, venal, covetous, unspiritual, earthly, earthly-minded, mundane, worldly, worldly- minded, worldly-wise, timeserving, interested, alieni appetens sui profusus, ungenerously, to gain some private ends, from interested motives, apres nous le deluge.For further exploring for "worldly" in Webster Dictionary Online