shabby — 1 Shabby, dilapidated, dingy, faded, seedy, threadbare refer to the appearance of persons and of things and mean showing signs of wear and tear. Shabby applies to persons and places and suggests a lack of freshness or newness in those items that… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
shabby — [shab′ē] adj. shabbier, shabbiest [< dial. shab, scab, scoundrel < OE sceabb, scab, scale: see SCAB] 1. run down; dilapidated; deteriorated [shabby surroundings] 2. a) showing much wear; ragged; threadbare: said of clothing b) wearing such… … English World dictionary
shabby — (adj.) 1660s, from shab scab (now only dialectal, in reference to a disease of sheep), from O.E. sceabb (see SCAB (Cf. scab)), with sound change as described in SH (Cf. sh ). Cf. M.Du. schabbich, Ger. schäbig shabby. Shabby genteel run down but… … Etymology dictionary
shabby — [adj1] broken down; in poor shape bare, bedraggled, crummy, decayed, decaying, decrepit, degenerated, desolate, deteriorated, deteriorating, dilapidated, dingy, disfigured, disreputable, dog eared*, faded, frayed, gone to seed*, mangy, meager,… … New thesaurus
shabby — ► ADJECTIVE (shabbier, shabbiest) 1) worn out or dilapidated. 2) dressed in old or worn clothes. 3) mean and unfair: a shabby trick. DERIVATIVES shabbily adverb shabbiness noun … English terms dictionary
shabby — index decadent, dilapidated, inferior (lower in quality), penurious, poor (inferior in quality), slipshod Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton … Law dictionary
shabby — UK [ˈʃæbɪ] / US adjective Word forms shabby : adjective shabby comparative shabbier superlative shabbiest 1) a) old and in bad condition shabby clothes/furniture/buildings b) dressed in clothes that are old or in bad condition The children were… … English dictionary
shabby — [[t]ʃæ̱bi[/t]] shabbier, shabbiest 1) ADJ GRADED Shabby things or places look old and in bad condition. His clothes were old and shabby... He walked past her into a tiny, shabby room. ...one of the shabbiest and poorest areas of London. Syn:… … English dictionary
shabby — shab|by [ ʃæbi ] adjective 1. ) old and in bad condition: shabby clothes/furniture/buildings a ) dressed in clothes that are old or in bad condition: The children were all so shabby and hungry. feel shabby: Linda felt shabby standing next to… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
shabby — adjective (shabbier; est) Etymology: obsolete English shab a low fellow Date: 1669 1. clothed with worn or seedy garments < a shabby hobo > 2. a. threadbare and faded from wear < a shabby sofa > b. ill kept … New Collegiate Dictionary
