Lightly
['laɪtlɪ] or ['laɪtli]
Definition
(adv.) with indifference or without dejection; 'he took it lightly'.
(adv.) indulging with temperance; 'we eat lightly in the morning'.
(adv.) to a slight degree; 'her speech is only lightly accented'.
(adv.) with little weight or force; 'she kissed him lightly on the forehead'.
(adv.) with few burdens; 'experienced travellers travel light'.
(adv.) without good reason; 'one cannot say such things lightly'.
Checked by Blanchard--From WordNet
Definition
(adv.) With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.
(adv.) Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.
(adv.) Without deep impression.
(adv.) In a small degree; slightly; not severely.
(adv.) With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.
(adv.) Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.
(adv.) Commonly; usually.
(adv.) Without dejection; cheerfully.
(adv.) Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.
(adv.) Not chastely; wantonly.
Editor: Tess
Examples
- I lightly pushed the heavy leaf; would it yield? Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Keep it lightly firm but not pulling until thou pullest. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- But his eyes were beautiful and soft and immune from stress or excitement, beautiful and smiling lightly to her, smiling with her. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- St. John was not a man to be lightly refused: you felt that every impression made on him, either for pain or pleasure, was deep-graved and permanent. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- It was so long since Fanny had had any letter from her, that she had some reason to think lightly of the friendship which had been so dwelt on. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Once my heart sat lightly in my bosom; all the beauty of the world was doubly beautiful, irradiated by the sun-light shed from my own soul. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- And he took another gentle little pinch of snuff, and lightly crossed his legs. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- The expression was not lost upon her; she laid her hand lightly on his arm a moment as if to thank him for it. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Boil lightly for fifteen minutes, allow to cool, and then skim off the wax which floats on the surface. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
- Dr. Bangs came, said Beth had symptoms of the fever, but he thought she would have it lightly, though he looked sober over the Hummel story. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Pull it farther back and let it snap lightly forward,' the _civil_ said, and I have never heard such a tone of voice. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- It came very lightly indeed. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- As he did so, a small case in which the Doctor was accustomed to carry the lists of his day's duties, fell lightly on the floor. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- It will come lightly from you. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- But have it your own way, dear girl, he added lightly. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Change of air and care will keep you well, I dare say, or if it does not entirely, you will have the fever more lightly. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- The square of 9 is passed lightly over as only a step towards the cube. Plato. The Republic.
- Allow the paper to remain half a minute, and then dip it into water, and again dry it lightly with blotting paper. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- He carried her lightly to the door, and laid her tenderly down in a coach. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- John caught her up in his arm, and lightly dashed into the room with her. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He has been grubbing and grubbing at school,' said Bella, looking at her father's hand and lightly slapping it, 'till he's not fit to be seen. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- But in Spain it is done too lightly and often without true necessity and there is much quick injustice which, afterward, can never be repaired. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- A family which exercised great hospitality, would be taxed much more lightly than one who entertained fewer guests. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- One does not call John Carter coward and liar thus lightly, and Zat Arras should have known it. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- He treats it lightly himself, though it sometimes makes his friends anxious about him. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- He lay there holding her very lightly, feeling her breathe and feeling her heart beat, and keeping track of the time on his wrist watch. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Man and dog both jumped lightly out as soon as they touched the other side, and went away. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Then suddenly he leaned up to her and kissed her fingers lightly, putting his face to hers and looking into her eyes with a pale grin. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Handle them never so lightly, and they fell to pieces with such ease that you might suspect them of having been flawed before. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- The islands of Guernsey and Jersey, without any means of resisting the authority of parliament, are more lightly taxed than any part of Great Britain. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Editor: Tess