low - lowly

◊ 'low'

Low is used as an adjective or an adverb.

\

Something that is low measures a short distance from the bottom to the top.

...a low brick wall.

...low hills.

\

You also say that something is low when it is very close to the ground.

She made a low curtsey.

...a chain hanging in a low loop across the inner arch.

\

You can use low as an adverb to say that something moves close to the ground. For example, you can say `He bowed low'.

I asked him to fly low over the beach.

\

Note that you do not say `He bowed lowly' or `I asked him to fly lowly over the beach'.

\

Low also means `small in amount, value, or degree'.

...workers on low incomes.

...low expectations.

\

Low is not used as an adverb with this meaning, except in front of `paid'.

As with most low paid women's work, it's dull, repetitive and labour intensive.

\

Like the adjective, the adverb low has the comparative and superlative forms lower, lowest.

In a series of quick, jerky movements he bent lower and lower.

...the lowest paid workers in the country.

\

◊ 'lowly'

Lowly is an adjective. It is a literary word meaning `low in rank, status, or importance'.

...a lowly employee.

...his lowly social origins.

\

The comparative and superlative forms of `lowly' are lowlier and lowliest.

\