The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative dowdier, superlative dowdiest
Plain and unfashionable in style or dress. examples
Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby. quotations examples
[...she was] a perfect saint amongst women, but so dreadfully dowdy that she reminded one of a badly bound hymn-book.
1891, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, London, New York, N.Y., Melbourne, Vic.: Ward Lock & Co.
plural dowdies
A plain or shabby person. quotations examples
Besides these, however, and the determined dowdies, women who either do not understand dress, or who will not be troubled with it, there are certainly many who, while always anxious to appear to the best advantage, are not wealthy enough to do so […]
1877, Truth, volume 1, page 615
The men are all dowdies and the women are all dandies, aren't they?
1895, Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband
third-person singular simple present dowdies, present participle dowdying, simple past and past participle dowdied
(cooking, transitive) To press the crust into the filling during baking, to allow the juices to caramelize on top. quotations examples
Topping the apples with squares of dough allowed steam to escape during baking, preventing the apples from overcooking. Dowdying the crust partway through created the dessert's sweet finish.
2021, America's Test Kitchen, The Complete Cook’s Country TV Show Cookbook, page 743