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Added 9 October 2026

worldly

/ˈwɜː(ɹ)ldli/ adjective

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about worldly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world.
worldly goods and advancement
Very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world.
the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as `the pond'

Origin

From Middle English worldly, worldlich, wordly (adjective), from Old English woruldlīċ, worldlīċ, weoroldlīċ (“worldly; earthly; temporal; mundane; secular”), from Proto-Germanic *weraldilīkaz, equivalent to world + -ly. Cognate with Dutch wereldlijk (“worldly; secular”), German Low German weltlik (“worldly”), German weltlich (“worldly”), Danish verdslig (“worldly”), Swedish världslig (“worldly”), Icelandic veraldlegur (“worldly; secular”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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