Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Lightly?

\Light"ly\, adv. 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly. Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast. --Pope. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. --Milton. 2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility. So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail. --R. of Brunne. Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word. --Tennyson. 3. Without deep impression. The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot. --Prior. 4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely. At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her. --Is. ix. 1. 5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily. That lightly come, shall lightly go. --Old Proverb. They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it. --Sir W. Scott. 6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight. Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages. --Jer. Taylor. 7. Commonly; usually. [Obs.] --Bp. Fisher. The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown. --B. Jonson. 8. Without dejection; cheerfully. ``Seeming to bear it lightly.'' --Shak. 9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily. Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly. --Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.]. 10. Not chastely; wantonly. --Swift.