Lightly

Light"ly

, adv. 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.
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Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest,
And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast.
Pope.
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Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touched lightly.
Milton.
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2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.
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So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail.
R. of Brunne.
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Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word.
Tennyson.
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3. Without deep impression.
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The soft ideas of the cheerful note,
Lightly received, were easily forgot.
Prior.
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4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely.
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At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her.
Is. ix. 1.
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5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.
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That lightly come, shall lightly go.
Old Proverb.
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They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it.
Sir W. Scott.
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6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.
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Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.
Jer. Taylor.
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7. Commonly; usually. [Obs.] Bp. Fisher.
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The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown.
B. Jonson.
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8. Without dejection; cheerfully. "Seeming to bear it lightly." Shak.
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9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.
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Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly.
Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].
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10. Not chastely; wantonly. Swift.
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Sat 20th April 2019