Lightly adv.

For forms see LIGHT a.¹ and -LY². Also comparative 1 léohtlecor, 3 lihtluker, 4 lihtloker, 5 leyȝtlocure. [OE. léohtlíce (= OFris. lichtelik, OHG. lîhtlîhho, MHG. lîhtelîche, mod.G. leichtlich, ON. léttlega), f. léoht LIGHT a.¹ + -LY².] In a light manner.

  1.  With little weight, so as not to be heavy; with little pressure, force or violence; not strongly or severely; gently, superficially; in both material and immaterial applications.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xxiv. 179. Ða weras mon sceal hefiʓlecor & stiðlecor læran, & ða wif leohtlecor.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 29419. If clerkes … Smites oþer lightli in gamen.

a. 1400.  Pistill of Susan (MS. I), 227. [He] lifte lyhtly þe lache, and lepe ouer þe lake.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, lv. E v b. Whiche caused the deuyll fyrst to tempte them lyghtlyer.

1503.  Hawes, Examp. Virtue, XII. ii. Come on she sayd and walke on lyghtly.

1611.  Bible, Isa. ix. 1. At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun.

1635–56.  Cowley, Davideis, I. 718. Some [Letters] cut in wood, some lightlier traced on slates.

1680.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 208. Try how the Centers are pitcht, by Treading the Treddle lightly down.

1747.  Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 62. Boil very lightly one spoonful of white Copperas scrap’d.

1812.  J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, II. 452. So lightly doth this little boat Upon the scarce-touch’d billows float.

1818.  J. W. Croker, in C. Papers (1884), 13 July. I must now mention to you … what I have heretofore touched lightly upon.

1857.  H. B. Farnie, Golfer’s Manual, in Golfiana Misc. (1887), 143. The cleek again is still more lightly shafted.

1874.  Symonds, Sk. Italy & Greece (1898), I. ix. 182. Crimes of bloodshed … sat lightly on the adventurer’s conscience.

1883.  S. C. Hall, Retrospect, II. 333. The fact must not be passed too lightly over.

  b.  With reference to sleep (see LIGHT a.¹ 20).

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xiv. [xi.] (1890), 296. Swa swa he leohtlice onslepte.

1852.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 207. I sleep lightly enough for such emergency.

  2.  In no great quantity or thickness; to no great amount.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 36. Awringe þa wyrta … & ʓeswet swiþe leohtlice mid huniʓe.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., I. ii. 157. They are but lightly rewarded.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., Aug. (1679), 23. You may sow Anemony seeds … &c. lightly cover’d with fit mold in Cases.

1682.  Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., I. § 9. Persons lightly dipt, not grain’d in generous Honesty.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xii. I fear me this traveller hath dined but lightly.

1830.  Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 204. Moulds … rubbed lightly over with a solution of soap.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 27. They are lightly clad in summer while at their work.

1898.  Westm. Gaz., 16 Sept., 4/3. Birds are so scarce in some districts that they will need to be lightly shot.

  † b.  In no great degree, slightly. Obs.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 45. They loue his Grace but lightly.

1631.  A. Craig, Pilgr. & Heremite, 9.

1659.  Hammond, On Ps. xliii. Paraphr. 227. The Forty third Psalm is exactly of the same mournfull subject … with the former, but perhaps lightly varied from thence.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat. Man, I. i. 302. If he be at least but lightly skilled in Anatomy.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 425. While yet the Head is Green, or lightly swell’d With Milky-moisture.

  3.  Without depression or heaviness; in lightsome mood; cheerfully, gaily, merrily.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1012. Who looketh lightly now but Palamon.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 521. ‘It is lyke,’ said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax, Advt. to Rdr. The first begins grauely and ends lightlye.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xiv. 138. Bid that welcome Which comes to punish vs, and we punish it Seeming to beare it lightly.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 497. Try to bear lightly what must needs be.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 313. The old man … chatted lightly with Basil.

  4.  Easily, readily. Obs. exc. arch. † One cannot lightly, etc. = ‘one cannot well,’ etc. Obs.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 49. Þe put ne tuneð noht lihtliche his muð ouer us.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 254. Euerichon to dealed from oðer lihtluker to bersteð.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter. ix. 30. Whare men may noght lyghtly see whilk way þai sall take.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 461. Whil ther is oyle forto fyre, The lampe is lyhtly set afyre.

c. 1425.  Eng. Conq. Irel., 26. Þay … seiden that lyghtly that myght be done, yf [etc.].

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., 27. He wold take a knyght al armed and lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly.

1570–6.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 331. It could not lightly blowe more boisterously out of any quarter.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, I. lxix. 103. A man shall not lightly finde it in this countrey.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xvii. 53. As we see them play away a piece of Damask at one cast at die, as those that come lightly by them.

1740.  Chesterf., Lett. (1792), I. lxii. 175. Credulous people believe lightly whatever they hear.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xx. That’s lightly said, but no sae lightly credited.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. II. 458. As fair was he As any king’s son you might lightly see.

  Proverb.  1624.  Sanderson, Serm., I. 251. The ding-thrift’s proverb is, ‘Lightly come, lightly go.’

1898.  Besant, Orange Girl, II. iv. Lightly got, lightly spent.

  5.  With facile movement, nimbly. † In early use, quickly, swiftly; occas. immediately, at once.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 416. Liȝtlike ȝe lepeð up.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 60. Þe earewen of þe liht eien … fleoð lichtliche uorð.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 853. Lyȝtly he rysez & bowez forth fro þe bench in-to þe brode ȝates.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 4366 (Horstm.). Ouȝte off his bedde leyȝtlyche he lepe.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2245. Lightlie she did hir redie make.

c. 1500.  Melusine, xxxvi. 251. Fayre lordes, now lightly on horsback.

15[?].  Helyas, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1828), III. 81. I pray you my lord and lady that ye will lightly come … And incontinent the kynge and the queene descended.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. (Percy Soc.), 143. This Godfrey Gobilyve went lightly Unto dame Sapience.

c. 1530.  Hickscorner, 624. When you them mete, lyghtly them arest.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 75. Which said, he lightly vaulting off his saddle, drew out his sword.

  † 6.  As may easily happen; probably, perhaps. Obs. [Cf. G. vielleicht, Du. wellicht, perhaps.]

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 88. Lyȝtly, when I am lest, he letes me alone.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 321. And lightliche oure lorde at here lyues ende Haþ mercy of suche men.

c. 1460.  J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 487. With a spone lightely to ete your souerayne may be leeff.

c. 1491.  Chast. Goddes Chyld., 2. Some other maters that lightly wyll falle to purpose.

1615.  T. Adams, White Devil, 16. Lightly there is one Judas in the congregation to crie ‘Why is this waste?’

1672.  Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 105. There happens lightly some ugly little contrary accident.

  † b.  As is apt to happen; commonly, often. Obs.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 1. Richessis ben perilouse, for liȝtli wole a riche man use hem unto moche lust.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xi. (1495), 116. A beest stryken in the place of the temples dethe lyghtly folowyth.

1535.  in Lett. R. & Illustr. Ladies (1846), II. 150. He goes to market lightly, one week with another, three times a-week.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 219. The beddes heade which lightly is the appointed place for all mens purses.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, II. 153. Such as vse ordinarily to be drunk, & are lightly neuer sober.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 75. When he goeth abroad—which is lightly every other Friday.

1637.  R. Humphrey, trans. St. Ambrose, I. 44. Where there is leannes, there lightly is pensivenes.

1670.  Ray, Prov., 114. There’s lightning lightly before thunder.

1676.  Allen, Address Nonconf., 20. They lightly do in the total … but frustrate and disappoint those ends.

  7.  a. With indifference or unconcern; carelessly, thoughtlessly, indifferently. b. Depreciatingly, slightingly.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 942. In his hali nome ich schal leten lihtlice of al þat ȝe cunnen kasten aȝein me.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1218. Ȝhe bi-mente hire to abraham, And sumdel liȝtlike he it nam.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1650. I sal do þam lij ful lau þat letes sua lightly on min au.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 168. The kynge … lourede vp-on men of lawe and lightliche seide.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. cvi. 11. They … but lightly regarded the councell of the most hyest.

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., Scot. (1808), V. 437. Offended … that such wandering theeues should so lightlie dare to contemne his power.

1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. ii. 30. They that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed.

1746.  Hervey, Medit. (1818), 13. Seriousness and devotion become this house for ever. May I never enter it lightly or irreverently.

1828.  D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. v. 119. The Pope lightly appreciated the bare word of an heretical sovereign.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Demerara, i. 11. Her sister stared to hear her speak so lightly of being whipped.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 419. The Judges treated this argument very lightly.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 702. Thinking lightly of the possession of gold.

  Proverb.  a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 145. Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger and of festen.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 49. Þe fulle womb disputiþ litly of fastyng.

  8.  For a slight cause; without careful consideration, without strong reason.

c. 1122.  O. E. Chron., an. 1009 (Laud MS.). Se cyng … & þa ealdor menn … forleton þa scipo þus leohtlice.

c. 1400.  Melayne, 212. Lyghtly walde þey it [the city] noghte ȝelde.

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., 176. Thane wille þay leue the lyghtely, þat nowe wille the lowte.

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. iii. 30. Stryue not lightly with eny man, where as he hath done y^e no harme.

1751.  Affecting Narr. of Wager, 9. An Asylum that must not lightly be violated.

1790.  Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 177. These are opinions I have not lightly formed, or that I can lightly quit.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 555. He was not a prince against whom men lightly venture to set up a standard of rebellion.

1883.  Manch. Exam., 17 Dec., 5/1. A warning to judges not lightly to send such suits to be retried.

  † 9.  ‘Not chastely’ (J.). Obs.

a. 1745.  Swift, Story of an injured Lady (1746), 10. If I were lightly disposed, I could still perhaps have Offers, that some, who hold their Heads higher, would be glad to accept.

  10.  Comb.

1687.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2274/4. Lost … a dark grey Gelding … lightly handled.

1798.  Sotheby, trans. Wieland’s Oberon (1826), I. 76. And clasp’d her lightly-shaded breast beneath.

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. VIII. iii. 180. Some lightly-budding philosophers.

1863.  Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, 39. Her beauty walks in happier grace Than lightly-moving fawns.

1883.  ‘Annie Thomas,’ Mod. Housewife, 53. Butter a flat dish and put a layer of lightly-fried bread crumbs.