lightly
adv/ˈlaɪtli/
Etymology From Middle English lyghtly, liȝtliche, lihtliche, from Old English lēohtlīċe, equivalent to light + -ly.
1
In a light manner.
- As a teacher, I don't take rudeness in class lightly.
- 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:
1 more example
- 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 23, “Storm Damage in the Home Counties”, in Railway Magazine, page 746:
- Derived terms
- get off lightly, lightliness, once-over-lightly, overlightly, take lightly, tread lightly, tread-lightly