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lightly


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lightly 
  adv  1:  without  good  reason;  "one  cannot  say  such  things  lightly" 
  2:  with  few  burdens;  "experienced  travellers  travel  light" 
  [syn:  {light}] 
  3:  with  little  weight  or  force;  "she  kissed  him  lightly  on  the 
  forehead"  [syn:  {softly},  {gently}] 
  4:  indulging  with  temperance;  "we  eat  lightly  in  the  morning" 
  [ant:  {heavily}] 
  5:  with  indifference  or  without  dejection;  "he  took  it  lightly" 
  6:  in  a  small  quantity  or  extent;  "spread  the  margarine  thinly 
  over  the  meat";  "apply  paint  lightly"  [syn:  {thinly}] 
  [ant:  {thickly}] 
  7:  to  a  slight  degree;  "her  speech  is  only  lightly  accented" 




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