leidlich
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
From Middle High German līdelich (“patient, enduring”, later also “endurable”). Analysable as leiden (“to suffer”) + -lich (“-ly, -able”); compare similar English sufferable.
There was also another adjective, Middle High German leitlich (“painful, sorrowful”), from Old High German leidlīh, which, at least in spelling, was merged with the above in early modern German and which might have influenced the meaning (though this seems not particularly likely). This latter adjective is cognate with Dutch lelijk (“ugly”), English loathly.
Pronunciation
Adjective
leidlich (strong nominative masculine singular leidlicher, not comparable)
- (dated) tolerable; passable; mediocre (only just good enough; not good, but not extremely bad either)
- Synonym: (sometimes more positive) passabel
- Er ist ein leidlicher Tennisspieler.
- He’s a mediocre tennis player.
Declension
Positive forms of leidlich (uncomparable)
Adverb
leidlich
- (dated) tolerably; passably; halfway; more or less
- Synonyms: einigermaßen, halbwegs
Further reading
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