adjective · rare

churchly

churchly · churchlier · churchliest

Pertaining to or relating to the church, its government, forms, or ceremoniesPertaining to or relating to the church, its government, forms, or ceremonies; ecclesiastical.

UK/t͡ʃɜːt͡ʃ.li/US/t͡ʃɝt͡ʃ.li/

Meaning

4 senses

Pertaining to or relating to the church, its government, forms, or ceremonies; ecclesiastical.
Devoted to, or inclined to attach great importance to, the order and ritual of a particular section of the Christian church.
In accordance with ecclesiastical standards or ceremonies; appropriate for or befitting a church.
churchly music
resembling or suggesting or appropriate to a church
Characteristic of a church; churchy.

Origin

From Middle English *chirchely, *chirchelich, from Old English ċiriclīċ (“ecclesiastical”)

From Middle English *chirchely, *chirchelich, from Old English ċiriclīċ (“ecclesiastical”), equivalent to church + -ly. Cognate with Scots kirkly (“ecclesiastical”), Dutch kerkelijk (“ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical”), German kirchlich (“ecclesiastical, religious, ecclesiastic”), Swedish kyrklig (“ecclesiastical”). Compare also churchlike.

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