Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

lightly en · ADV

Pronunciation

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. In a light manner.
    • As a teacher, I don't take rudeness in class lightly.
    • In the Southern Region of British Railways, most of the damage was caused by earthslips which blocked one or both roads. Obstructions occurred at 21 places in the London Eastern District, and at 18 places in London Central District. On the other hand, the London Western District escaped comparatively lightly. 1958 November 14, “Storm Damage in the Home Counties”, in Railway Magazine, page 746:
    • 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." 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lightliest Degree=Sup lexicographic
most lightly Degree=Sup lexicographic
lightlier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
more lightly Degree=Cmp lexicographic
lighty alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

overlightly · take lightly · lightliness · get off lightly · tread-lightly · once-over-lightly · tread lightly

Translations (23)

it alla leggera (in a light manner) · pl lekko (in a light manner) · fo lættliga (in a light manner) · it in maniera superficiale (in a light manner) · gl lixeiramente (in a light manner) · it superficialmente (in a light manner) · hy թեթևակի (in a light manner) · bg несериозно (in a light manner) · pt levianamente (in a light manner) · de leicht (in a light manner) · eo malpeze (in a light manner) · bg леко (in a light manner) · la leviter (in a light manner) · sk ľahko (in a light manner) · ru слегка́ (in a light manner) · fr légèrement (in a light manner) · ca lleugerament (in a light manner) · sa लघु (in a light manner) · ru легко́ (in a light manner) · pt levemente (in a light manner) · cs lehce (in a light manner) · fi kevyesti (in a light manner) · es ligeramente (in a light manner)