Lightly

Lightly
Lightly Light"ly, adv. 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly. [1913 Webster]

Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility. [1913 Webster]

So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail. --R. of Brunne. [1913 Webster]

Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

3. Without deep impression. [1913 Webster]

The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely. [1913 Webster]

At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her. --Is. ix. 1. [1913 Webster]

5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily. [1913 Webster]

That lightly come, shall lightly go. --Old Proverb. [1913 Webster]

They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight. [1913 Webster]

Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

7. Commonly; usually. [Obs.] --Bp. Fisher. [1913 Webster]

The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

8. Without dejection; cheerfully. ``Seeming to bear it lightly.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily. [1913 Webster]

Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly. --Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.]. [1913 Webster]

10. Not chastely; wantonly. --Swift. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • lightly — [līt′lē] adv. 1. with little weight, pressure, or motion; gently 2. to a small degree or amount [to spend lightly] 3. nimbly; deftly 4. cheerfully; merrily 5. a) with indifference or neglect …   English World dictionary

  • lightly — (adv.) O.E. leohtlice so as not to be heavy (of material things, but also of sleep, blows, etc.); cognate with O.Fris. lichtelik, O.H.G. lihtlihho, Ger. leichtlich, O.N. lettlega (see LIGHT (Cf. light) (adj.1)). Meaning frivolously, indifferently …   Etymology dictionary

  • lightly — [adv] gently, effortlessly agilely, airily, breezily, carelessly, casually, daintily, delicately, easily, ethereally, faintly, flippantly, freely, frivolously, gingerly, heedlessly, indifferently, leniently, mildly, moderately, nimbly, peacefully …   New thesaurus

  • lightly — light|ly [ laıtli ] adverb ** ▸ 1 without much force ▸ 2 in/using small amounts ▸ 3 not seriously ▸ 4 cooked for a short time ▸ 5 waking up very easily ▸ 6 in a graceful way ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) without using much force or pressure: Her hands rested… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • lightly */*/ — UK [ˈlaɪtlɪ] / US adverb 1) without using much force or pressure Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders. 2) a) in a way that shows you think something is not important or serious Was it something I said? she asked lightly. b) [usually in… …   English dictionary

  • lightly — /luyt lee/, adv. 1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.; gently: to press lightly on a door bell. 2. to only a small amount or degree; slightly: lightly fried eggs. 3. nimbly; quickly: to leap lightly aside. 4. with a lack of concern;… …   Universalium

  • lightly — light|ly [ˈlaıtli] adv 1.) with only a small amount of weight or force = ↑gently ▪ I knocked lightly on the door. 2.) using or having only a small amount of something ▪ a lightly greased pan ▪ lightly armed soldiers 3.) take/treat/approach sth… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • lightly — /ˈlaɪtli/ (say luytlee) adverb 1. with little weight, force, intensity, etc.: to press lightly on a bell. 2. to only a small amount or degree. 3. easily; without trouble or effort: lightly come, lightly go. 4. cheerfully: to take the news lightly …  

  • lightly — adverb 1 with only a small amount of weight or force; gently: Martin kissed his bride lightly on the cheek. 2 using or having only a small amount of something: Rub a casserole lightly with olive oil. | lightly armed soldiers 3 without worrying,… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • lightly — adverb 1) Hermione kissed him lightly on the cheek Syn: softly, gently, faintly, delicately Ant: hard, heavily 2) season very lightly with paprika Syn: sparingly, slightly …   Thesaurus of popular words

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