lightly

Adverb
Synonyms: lightsoftlygentlythinly

WordNet 3.0

Adverb (7)

  1. without good reason“one cannot say such things lightly”
  2. with few burdens“experienced travellers travel light”Synonyms: light
  3. with little weight or force“she kissed him lightly on the forehead”Synonyms: softlygently
  4. indulging with temperance“we eat lightly in the morning”
  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”Synonyms: thinly
  7. to a slight degree“her speech is only lightly accented”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Lightly \Light"ly\, adv.

1.With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly. [1913 Webster]

Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.Swiftly; nimbly; with agility. [1913 Webster]

So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail.— R. of Brunne.[1913 Webster]
Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

3.Without deep impression. [1913 Webster]

The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot.— Prior.[1913 Webster]

4.In a small degree; slightly; not severely. [1913 Webster]

At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her.— Is. ix. 1.[1913 Webster]

5.With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily. [1913 Webster]

That lightly come, shall lightly go.— Old Proverb.[1913 Webster]
They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]

6.Without reason, or for reasons of little weight. [1913 Webster]

Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]

7.Commonly; usually. [Obs.] --Bp. Fisher. [1913 Webster]

The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown.— B. Jonson.[1913 Webster]

8.Without dejection; cheerfully. "Seeming to bear it lightly." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9.Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily. [1913 Webster]

Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly.— Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].[1913 Webster]

10.Not chastely; wantonly. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

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