Dictionary

overlightly en · ADV

Etymology

From Middle English overlyghtly, over-lightly, equivalent to over- + lightly.

Meanings

1. (dated) In an overlight manner; too easily or readily; frivolously
   • A prudent man doth not overlightly beleeve any thing, but laieth aside all reputation and credit of him that speaketh, and examineth the speech by it selfe: […] 1589, The French Academie:
   • I have heard it said that in these days young people speak overlightly of divorce. 1904, Good Housekeeping, volume 39, page 403:
   • In short, it is said to do more for builders than agriculturists, and has been, let us hope, overlightly named " The Freemasons' Refuge." 1878, Eustace Clare Grenville Murray, Round about France, page 146:
   • They had assumed overlightly that all the twists of seal law had become outmoded tortuosities, and then they barked their shins on one which was instead a taut and bearing rope. 2016, Karl N. Llewellyn, The Common Law Tradition: Deciding Appeals:
   • Mrs. Burton's conscience smote her not overlightly, and she hastened to change the subject, and to devote herself assiduously to Budge, as if to atone for some injury which she might have done to his brother. 1877, John Habberton, Other People's Children, page 101:

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