lily-white

lily-white
adj. /lil"ee hwuyt", -wuyt"/; n. /lil"ee hwuyt', -wuyt'/, adj.
1. white as a lily: soft lily-white skin.
2. pure; untouched by corruption or imperfection; above reproach: He tries to pass himself off as some sort of lily-white saint, but he's not.
3. designating or pertaining to any faction, organization, or group opposing the inclusion of blacks, esp. in political or social life.
n.
4. a member of a lily-white organization, esp. a member of a former faction of the Republican party in the South opposed to the inclusion of blacks in the party or in political life in general.
[1275-1325; ME lylie-whyt]
Syn. 3. segregated, discriminatory, unintegrated.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lily-white — adjective 1. ) LITERARY pure white: lily white skin 2. ) INFORMAL involving or including only white people. This word is usually used for showing that you think people of other races should be included: the lily white private schools 3. )… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • lily-white — adj 1.) pure white ▪ lily white skin 2.) informal morally perfect ▪ You re not so lily white yourself! …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • lily-white — [lil′ēhwīt′, lil′ēwīt′] adj. 1. white as a lily 2. innocent and pure; unsullied: often used sarcastically ☆ 3. practicing discrimination against, or segregation of, nonwhites, esp. blacks …   English World dictionary

  • lily-white — ► ADJECTIVE 1) pure white. 2) totally innocent or pure …   English terms dictionary

  • lily-white — 1. completely white in colour. He marvelled at her lily white hands. 2. completely honest. He s not exactly lily white himself, so he has some nerve calling her a cheat! (often negative) 3. having only white people near, often because of a wish… …   New idioms dictionary

  • lily-white — UK / US adjective 1) literary pure white lily white skin 2) informal completely honest and moral 3) informal involving or including only white people. This word is usually used for showing that you think people of other races should be included… …   English dictionary

  • lily-white — adjective 1 literary pure white: lily white skin 2 informal morally perfect: You re not so lily white yourself! …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • lily-white — I. adjective Date: 14th century 1. white as a lily 2. characterized by or favoring the exclusion of blacks especially from politics 3. irreproachable, pure II. noun Date: circa 1903 a member of a lily white political organization …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lily-white — adjective 1. restricted to whites only under segregation there were even white restrooms and white drinking fountains a lily white movement which would expel Negroes from the organization • Syn: ↑white • Similar to: ↑segregated, ↑unintegrated 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • lily-white — adjective a) A shade of the color white. Not a pimple nor freckle marred her lily white skin b) Pure, unblemished, immaculate …   Wiktionary

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