UNGAINLY


Meaning of UNGAINLY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ -ˈgān-lē ]

adjective

Etymology: obsolete gain direct, from Middle English gayn, geyn, from Old English gēn, from Old Norse gegn, from gegn, preposition, against; akin to Old English gēan- against — more at again

Date: 1611

1.

a. : lacking in smoothness or dexterity : clumsy

ungainly movements

b. : hard to handle : unwieldy

an ungainly contraption

2. : having an awkward appearance

a large ungainly bird

• un·gain·li·ness noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.