ungainly
UK: ʌnˈɡeɪnli | US: ʌnˈɡeɪnli
adj. lacking grace or ease in movement; awkward
adj. difficult to handle or manage; unwieldy
ungainly = un<not> + gainly<graceful>
- un: A prefix meaning "not," derived from Old English un-.
- gainly: An archaic adjective meaning "graceful" or "suitable," from Old English gænlic (from gǣnan "to suit").
Etymology Origin:
The word ungainly originated in Middle English as a negation of the now-rare gainly (graceful). Gainly itself stems from Old English gǣnan (to suit), implying harmony or appropriateness. Over time, ungainly evolved to describe physical awkwardness or clumsiness, reflecting the loss of grace implied by the prefix un-. The term’s persistence highlights its vivid depiction of inelegance.
The ungainly puppy tripped over its own paws.
She carried the ungainly package with difficulty.
His ungainly attempts at dancing amused the crowd.
The robot moved in an ungainly but efficient manner.
The ungainly design of the machine made it hard to transport.