Obs. Forms: 1 léohtlic, 3 lihtlic(h)e, 4 lightli, 5 liȝtli, lyghtly, 6 lichtlie, 4, 7 lightly. [OE. léohtlic, f. léoht LIGHT a.1 + lic, -LY1.] Frivolous, trifling, fickle; to be slighted, contemptible; also contemptuous, slighting; easy, easy to be persuaded. Cf. the senses of LIGHT a.1 Lightly cheap = light cheap (see LIGHT a.1 13 b).
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xliii. 309. Ond eft ðæm ʓifrum suiðe hrædlice him willað fylʓan leohtlicu weorc & unnyt.
c. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1320. Ah nis nawt lihtliche of þis meidenes mot.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in Cott. Hom., 273. Ah noble men and gentile and of heh burðe ofte winnen luue lihtlice cheape.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7222. Þis wijf alsua, þat þou has now, If þou ne war sua lightli to tru! Ibid., 28087. To men and wemmen bath i wate, þat oft i helde my lightly late.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 241. Al tymes ette they mettis, wyche ben moiste, lyghtly to defye.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xx. 24. It is liȝtlier a man ay to be still þan to not excede in wordes.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 15. Ony lichtlie takine of ir quhilk men wsis to schaw.
1608. J. King, Serm. St. Mary’s, 13. Dauid the sonne of Isai reigned, whose person was not so lightly.
Hence † Lightliful a., slighting, contemptuous; † Lightliness, contemptuous manner or treatment; contempt.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., III. 192. Contemneng his requeistes wt cruel and lychtliful anssers.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 166. In lychtlynes thai maid ansuer him till.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 13. Thay that … turnis the halie writ to lichtlines and scorne.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, IV. 67. Thay wald not thoill Venus haif lichtlines, Nor repudie.
