portly

Everyday

(of a person, usually an older man) Rather fat, with a large round body; a polite or old-fashioned word. tree →

In the lessons

In stories «portly» describes a character, often a cheerful older gentleman or a mayor — it paints a picture kindly. In real life calling people fat is rude; portly is gentler but still a comment on someone's body.

Examples

• A portly gentleman sat in the armchair. tree →
• The portly innkeeper laughed at the joke. tree →
• Father Christmas is often shown as portly and jolly. tree →
• The portly mayor puffed up the stairs. tree →
• The story's portly cook loved her own cakes. tree →
• His broad, portly person, hid the slender, lovely Babette; but she came forward and glanced at him with her bright, dark eyes. tree →

Note

Polite, old-fashioned: like «stout», «plump», «rotund». Not about «port» (harbour). Avoid talking about real people's bodies.