Dictionary

compactly en · ADV

Etymology

Etymology tree English compact Middle English -ly English -ly English compactly From compact + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a compact manner
   • Old Kipps glanced at her over his spectacles. "You ain't comfortable, my gal, in this world, not if you don't live up to your position," so putting compactly into contemporary English that fine old phrase, noblesse oblige. 1905, H. G. Wells, Kipps:
   • she is of middle size, stiffly made, body long, legs short, bust much developed but not compactly moulded, waist disproportionately compressed by an inhumanly braced corset, dress carefully arranged, large feet tortured into small bottines, head small, hair smoothed, braided, oiled, and gummed to perfection a. 1856 (date written), Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], edited by A[rthur] B[ell] Nicholls, The Professor, a Tale. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], published 1857, →OCLC:

Forms