lightly

lightly

English

Etymology

From Middle English lyghtly, liȝtliche, lihtliche, from Old English lēohtlīċe, equivalent to light +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪtli/

• Audio (US)

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Adverb

lightly (comparative lightlier or more lightly, superlative lightliest or most lightly)

1. In a light manner.

   As a teacher, I don't take rudeness in class lightly.

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

Derived terms

• take lightly

Translations

in a light manner

Catalan: lleugerament (ca) Czech: lehce (cs) Faroese: lættliga Finnish: kevyesti French: légèrement (fr) German: leicht (de)

Italian: alla leggera, superficialmente (it), in maniera superficiale Polish: lekko (pl) Portuguese: levemente (pt), levianamente Russian: легко́ (ru) (lexkó), слегка́ (ru) (slexká) Slovak: ľahko Spanish: ligeramente (es)

References

• lightly at OneLook Dictionary Search
• lightly in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.