worldly
AdjectiveUS[wurld-lee]/ˈwɝldli/2 syllables
Open English WordNet
Adjective (2)worldlier, worldliest
- characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world“worldly goods and advancement”“temporal possessions of the church”Synonyms: seculartemporalSimilar material, materialistic, mundane, economicSee also earthly, profane, sophisticated
- 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’”“the benefits of his worldly wisdom”Synonyms: blaseOpposite naifSimilar sophisticated
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
World′ly adjective
Origin: AS. woroldlic.
1. Relating to the world; human; common; as, worldly maxims; worldly actions. “I thus neglecting worldly ends.” William Shakespeare
Many years it hath continued, standing by no other worldly mean but that one only hand which erected it.— Richard Hooker
2. 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.
With his soul fled all my worldly solace.— William Shakespeare
3. Lay, as opposed to clerical. obsolete Geoffrey Chaucer
World′ly adverb
With relation to this life; in a worldly manner.
Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise By simply meek.— John Milton
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54