English Dictionary
Definition of “portly”
portly (ˈpɔːtlɪ
)
Definitions
adjective
- stout or corpulent
- archaic stately; impressive
Alternative Forms
ˈportliness noun Word Origin
C16: from portC16: from 5 (in the sense: deportment, bearing) (in the sense: deportment, bearing)
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
stout,
fat,
overweight,
plump,
large,
heavy,
ample,
bulky,
burly,
obese,
fleshy,
beefy,
tubby,
rotund,
corpulent,
Usage examples
They were led by General Sir James Simpson, a portly , fierce-looking gentleman.
Baxter, Stephen, Anti-Ice (1993)A 40-something, portly man clad in white cotton shirt and black slacks, he's verified your credentials and now begs you not to identify him.
Business Today (2001)Sung Hae Rim was a glamorous starlet when she met the portly potentate in 1970, a time when he was obsessed with films.
New Zealand Herald (2003)Judges picked the 18-stone storeman to join the famous range of portly , smiling faces.
Sun, News of the World (2002)John Sherry is the picture of a perfect host, with a round face, happy smile, and portly appearance.
Conil, Jean & Conil, Christopher (ed), A Passion for Food (1989)
