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When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes.
W. H. Auden

Meaning of "shabby" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SHABBY

From Old English sceabbscab + -y1.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF SHABBY

shabby  [ˈʃæbɪ] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SHABBY

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Shabby is an adjective.
The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

WHAT DOES SHABBY MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of shabby in the English dictionary

The first definition of shabby in the dictionary is threadbare or dilapidated in appearance. Other definition of shabby is wearing worn and dirty clothes; seedy. Shabby is also mean, despicable, or unworthy.


WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SHABBY


Abbe
ˈæbɪ
abbey
ˈæbɪ
blabby
ˈblæbɪ
cabbie
ˈkæbɪ
crabby
ˈkræbɪ
drabby
ˈdræbɪ
flabby
ˈflæbɪ
gabby
ˈɡæbɪ
grabby
ˈɡræbɪ
Newtownabbey
ˌnjuːtənˈæbɪ
scabby
ˈskæbɪ
slabby
ˈslæbɪ
tabby
ˈtæbɪ
tabi
ˈtæbɪ
yabbie
ˈjæbɪ
yabby
ˈjæbɪ

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SHABBY

shabash
Shabbat
shabbatot
Shabbes
shabbier
shabbiest
shabbily
shabbiness
shabble
Shabbos
Shabbosim
Shabbosos
shabby chic
shabby-genteel
shabby-looking
shabrack
shabracque

WORDS THAT END LIKE SHABBY

bobby
chubby
cobby
cubby
debby
dobby
gobby
grubby
hobby
hubby
Libby
lobby
mobby
nobby
rubby
squabby
stubby
swabby
tubby
webby

Synonyms and antonyms of shabby in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «SHABBY»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «shabby» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of shabby

Translation of «shabby» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SHABBY

Find out the translation of shabby to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of shabby from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «shabby» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

破旧的
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

gastado
570 millions of speakers

English

shabby
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

जर्जर
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

بالٍ
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

убогий
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

surrado
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

হীন
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

défraîchi
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Lusuh
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

schäbig
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

みすぼらしい
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

초라한
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Apik banget
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

tiều tụy
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

அவலட்சணமான
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

चिडखोर
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

eski püskü
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

logoro
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

wytarty
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

поношений
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

ponosit
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

φθαρμένος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

shabby
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

sjabbig
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

sjasket
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of shabby

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SHABBY»

The term «shabby» is very widely used and occupies the 15.147 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
93
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «shabby» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of shabby
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «shabby».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SHABBY» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «shabby» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «shabby» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about shabby

EXAMPLES

9 QUOTES WITH «SHABBY»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word shabby.
1
Jami Attenberg
In addition to public housing, South Williamsburg is home to shabby artists' lofts like mine, apartments of Hasidic Jews, and one extremely tall, high-priced condo.
2
W. H. Auden
When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes.
3
Willa Cather
Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.
4
Willa Cather
A work-room should be like an old shoe; no matter how shabby, it's better than a new one.
5
Edward Dahlberg
Genius, like truth, has a shabby and neglected mien.
6
Chuck Feeney
I'm a shabby dresser.
7
Jane Leavy
In the glory days of Orioles, when I was a newbie baseball writer for the Post, the roster of talkers was as good as the everyday lineup. Singy - Ken Singleton - Flanny, and Cakes - the underwear spokesman Jim Palmer - were my go-to guys, occupying stalls along one wall of the shabby chic clubhouse.
8
Martin Parr
Of course, New Brighton is very shabby, very rundown, but people still go there because it's the place where you take kids out on a Sunday.
9
Sid Vicious
The band broke up because I couldn't bear Rotten anymore because he was an embarrassment with his silly hats and his, like, shabby, dirty, nasty looking appearance.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SHABBY»

Discover the use of shabby in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to shabby and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Inspir
Showcases the shabby chic style through a tour of interior spaces decorated by the author and other designers, with commentaries and color photographs for each house.
Rachel Ashwell, 2011
2
The Shabby Little Princess
This book is the first of many adventures to come for Samantha, "The Shabby Little Princess" from China.
Mary Jane Durkin, 2009
3
Shabby Chic
Comfort, the beauty of imperfections, the allure of time-worn objects, and the appeal of simple practical living: these are the cornerstones of what has come to be known as the Shabby Chic style.
Rachel Ashwell, 2012
4
The Shabby Chic Home
Wonderful wide–plank floors, paned sash windows, an old brick fireplace, the charm of living with a home's small imperfections and making them a virtue. These are just some examples of what makes up a Shabby Chic home.
Rachel Ashwell, 2010
5
Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Treasure Hunting and Decorating ...
Describes what to look for at flea markets and garage sales, offers advice for cleaning and repairing purchases, and presents decorating ideas.
Rachel Ashwell, 2013
6
Adam Sandler: Not Too Shabby!
Recounts the life and career of the comic actor best noted for his roles in such films as "The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer," and "Big Daddy"
Jon Salem, 1999
7
Shabby Chic: The Gift of Giving
Rachel Ashwell shares the wonderful gift ideas she has collected throughout the years and shows you how to express your sentiments with a classic alluring style.
Rachel Ashwell, 2010
8
Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings and Other Lovely Things
Rachel Ashwell uses her signature style to make any event a special occasion. This beautiful, accessible book proves that entertaining need not be expensive.
Rachel Ashwell, 2004
9
Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets
"With flowers, music, candles, and beautiful, comfortable, and functional things, a home will be that much lovelier a place for our hearts to be." Book jacket.
Rachel Ashwell, 2012
10
Miscellanies: Little dinner at Timmins's; Bedford-row ...
A. SHABBY. GENTEEL. STORY. *. CHAPTER, I. AT that remarkable period when Louis XVHL was restored a second time to the throne of his fathers, and all the English who had money or leisure rushed over to the Continent, there lived in a ...
William Makepeace Thackeray, 1857

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SHABBY»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term shabby is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Traveler flees shabby, dirty Airbnb rental in Paris
The blinds were shabby; they were crooked and nonfunctioning. The dining room, which looked so inviting in the photos, had half-dead plants in the window. «Arizona Daily Star, Jul 15»
2
Shabby sheik stirs up Durban Country Club
There's a great deal of unhappiness among some members at the prospect of having to rub shoulders with the Shabby Sheik - who was in 2005 sentenced to 15 ... «Independent Online, Jun 15»
3
Litter problem makes Oamaru look 'shabby'
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher with a garbage bag full of rubbish he picked up from the roadside between the community gardens entrance and Parson's Road last ... «Timaru Herald, Jun 15»
4
Graffiti art revitalises 'shabby-looking' Bradley Park Bowling Club
The changing rooms at Bradley Park Bowling Club have been revitalised following the completion of a project undertaken by young people in the community, ... «LeaderLive, May 15»
5
X-Factor's Tulisa loses bid to sue over 'shabby sting'
Singer and former 'X-Factor' judge Tulisa has lost a bid to sue a newspaper over what a court heard was a "shabby sting operation" which saw her named in ... «Irish Independent, Apr 15»
6
Author Rachel Ashwell touts the benefits of the Shabby Chic lifestyle
Shabby Chic, a trend that became a lifestyle, weathered the return of “Mad Men” and midcentury modern, bankruptcy and confusion to emerge with its soul intact ... «Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Apr 15»
7
Shabby studio in Centennial Park sells for $10000 a square metre
Despite there being no parking, no balcony and no window in the living room, this compact unit sold for more than $10,764 a square metre. The foul-smelling flat ... «The Daily Telegraph, Apr 15»
8
Brian Rudman: St James' shabby chic lives again
You have to give Steve Bielby full marks for enthusiasm. Over the next three months he has to complete a masterplan for the restoration of the old St James ... «New Zealand Herald, Apr 15»
9
Greenberg Calls U.S. Prettiest House in Shabby Neighborhood
“We're the prettiest house in a pretty shabby neighborhood. Over time, I imagine the dollar's strength against many currencies will go the other way.” Greenberg ... «Bloomberg, Jan 15»
10
Shabby no more: National Mall's dignity restored
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It's improving. It's better. Americans can be proud of it again. What, you thought we were talking about Congress? We're talking about the ... «Detroit Free Press, Oct 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Shabby [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/shabby>. Apr 2024 ».
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