Lightly — Defs

01 adv. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.

1.
With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.
“Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast.” — Pope.

“Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly.” — Milton.
2.
Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.
“So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail.” — R. of Brunne.

“Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word.” — Tennyson.
3.
Without deep impression.
“The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot.” — Prior.
4.
In a small degree; slightly; not severely.
“At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her.” — Is. ix. 1.
5.
With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.
“That lightly come, shall lightly go.” — Old Proverb.

“They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it.” — Sir W. Scott.
6.
Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.
“Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.” — Jer. Taylor.
7.
Commonly; usually.[Obs.]
“The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown.” — B. Jonson.
8.
Without dejection; cheerfully.
9.
Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.
“Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly.” — Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].
10.
Not chastely; wantonly.