1580s (n.), "an aukward, ill-dressed, inelegant woman" [Johnson]; 1670s (adj.), perhaps a diminutive of doue "poorly dressed woman" (early 14c.), which is of uncertain origin. The modern use of dowd (n.) is most likely a back-formation from dowdy. "If plaine or homely, wee saie she is a doudie or a slut" [Barnabe Riche, "Riche his Farewell to Militarie profession," 1581].
You don't have to be dowdy to be a Christian. [Tammy Faye Bakker, "Newsweek," June 8, 1987]
Related: Dowdily; dowdiness.
雙語(yǔ)例句
1. She looked very plain and dowdy.
她長(zhǎng)得非常普通,衣也過時(shí).
來自《簡(jiǎn)明英漢詞典》
2. Her clothes were clean but dowdy.
她衣著整潔但有點(diǎn)土氣。
來自辭典例句
3. She makes me feel dowdy and ugly.
她讓我自慚形穢。
來自辭典例句
4. She made the other women look dowdy and careless.