slightlyadv.
/ˈslʌɪtli/, U.S. /ˈslaɪtli/ 1.
a. Slimly, slenderly; flimsily, unsubstantially.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [adverb]
slightly1521
unsoundly1593
flimsily1787
frailly1860
the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [adverb]
slightly1521
smally1562
slenderly1591
slight?1677
tenderly1721
slimly1831
1521 Coventry Leet Bk. 673 That they put sufficient stuf in them.., and that they make them not slyghtly.
1529 Act 21 Hen. VIII c. 12 §1 Traces, halters and other tacle ben by the said persons sleyghtly and deceyvably made.
1549–50 Act 3 & 4 Edw. VI c. 2 §1 The same Clothes soe sleightlie and subtillye made.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. vii. 22 So that my arrowes Too slightly tymberd for so loued Arm'd, Would haue reuerted.
1656 A. Cowley Davideis ii. 52 in Poems That fatal net, Which though but slightly wrought, was firmly set.
1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in Wks. IV. 235 To raise the Prices..and manufacture the said Goods more slightly and fraudulently than before.
1745 R. Pococke Descr. East II. i. 197 A well of good water, from which the city is supplied by an aqueduct very slightly built.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. xi. 187 She was quite a child..slightly built.
b. Loosely, slackly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > [adverb]
looselyc1400
slackly1486
slightly1600
laxly1756
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 270 The guardes are but slightly basted on. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 967 The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd. View more context for this quotation
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth I. v. 112 The flower had been stuck so slightly into the cap.
2.
a. Without much care or attention; carelessly; lightly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adverb]
recklesslyeOE
lighteOE
yemeleslichec1000
lightlyOE
recklessa1450
slightlya1557
uncaredly?1590
wretchlessly?16..
incuriously1603
uncarefully1655
carelessly1667
slightily1679
slapdash1680
lashly1691
cavalierly1718
negligent1738
a1557 M. Basset Let. in T. More Wks. 1435/1 For the instruction of my conscience in the matter, I haue not sleightly looked, but by many yeres studied & aduisedly considred.
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia i [Fortune] slightly sowes that sildom taketh roote.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 197 I slightly passe over the places described in my former passage those waies.
1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vii. 120 He that knows how to work curiously, may when he lists work slightly.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer iii. 54 I know they're too valuable to be so slightly kept.
1843 A. Bethune Sc. Peasant's Fire-side 36 Affection may try to..pass slightly over the darker evidence against him.
b. Without much interest, insistence, or heartiness; indifferently.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [adverb] > lukewarmly or unenthusiastically
lukely1340
faintlyc1440
slightly1599
with half a heart1600
heartlessly1606
lukewarmly1611
disaffectedly1646
half-heartedly1870
unzealously1871
tepidly1873
1599 M. Drayton Idea in Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) sig. P4 I say I loue, you slightly aunswer I?
1709 J. Swift Vindic. I. Bickerstaff 7 There is one Objection..which I have sometimes met with, tho' indeed very slightly offered.
1781 S. Johnson Mallet in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets X. 6 When Mallet entered one day, Pope asked him slightly what there was new.
1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. v. 78 Mrs. Draper slightly returned the farewell of her visitors.
c. With slight exertion or effort. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > with little effort
slightly1623
slenderly1677
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. iv. 110 You haue by Fortune..Gone slightly o're lowe steppes. View more context for this quotation
1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 25 He catched at the topmost bar with his left hand, and throwing himself slightly over, opened the gate.
3. Easily, readily; weakly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without difficulty or delay
lightlyOE
skeetc1175
readya1325
areadilya1375
redelya1375
readilyc1390
goodlyc1405
willingly1577
slightly1594
pliantly1673
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia 11 He that retyres not at the threats of death, Is not, as are the vulgar, slightly fraied.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice v. i. 167 You were to blame,..to part so slightly with your wiues first gift. View more context for this quotation
a1626 W. Rowley Birth of Merlin (1662) sig. F3 It is the weakest part I found in thee, to doubt of me so slightly.
1646 J. Whitaker Danger of Greatnesse 4 I should wrong goodnesse.., if I should sleightly give that title to unknown persons.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed iii, in Tales Crusaders II. 72 She has..advisers, who may not..recommend to her to sit down slightly with this injury.
4. With little respect or ceremony; disparagingly, slightingly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [adverb] > contemptuously
lightlyOE
scornlichec1300
despitouslyc1320
hokerfullyc1330
scornfullyc1380
despisantly1389
deignouslyc1440
scorninglyc1440
contemningly1471
a-scornc1485
disdaininglyc1485
despiteouslya1500
disdainouslya1513
disdainishly?1529
a-swash1530
contemptuously1530
disdainfullya1533
despitefully1535
disdainedly1535
contemptibly1577
snuffingly1577
floutingly1580
despisingly1591
slightly1601
indignantly1602
contemptedly1605
overly1610
slightfully1627
despicably1637
slightingly1654
contemnibly1702
sneeringly1711
slightily1740
snottily1864
sniffingly1873
sufficiently1893
sniffily1902
pooh-poohingly1903
dismissively1922
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > [adverb]
unrespectively1586
unrespectively1593
slightly1601
respectlessly1612
slightfully1627
disrespectively1636
irrespectively1636
undervaluingly1637
unrespectfullya1648
slightingly1654
disrespectfully1703
cavalierly1718
slightily1740
undeferentially1876
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iii. ii. sig. F Ile censure it slightly, and ridiculously. View more context for this quotation
1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 244 The sending of the young Prince and ould gentlleman so slightly from the Kinge is by some conjectered to bee a ploott.
1654 E. Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 136 Walter Montague doth proceed to speeke very slitly of the Kings commands.
a1779 W. Warburton Wks. (1811) IX. 260 Learned Men, who have affected to think slightly of the Religion of their Country.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed xv, in Tales Crusaders I. 306 I am not to be treated as an ordinary person, who may be received with negligence, and treated slightly with impunity.
1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head & Trotters 289 The country lass they'll slightly pass, An she were dirt.
5.
a. In a slight or small degree; to a slight extent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > to a small extent or slightly
lightlyeOE
liteOE
littleOE
a litec1290
smallc1300
softc1390
smally?a1425
slenderlya1513
hoverly1549
remissly1557
slender1581
not half1583
faintly1590
slightly1594
lankly1611
lowly1655
slight1671
nicely1698
weakly1775
sparingly1796
jimply1816
feebly1830
slightually1859
marginally1960
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia v. 331 O radiant Sunne that slightly guildst our dayes.
a1667 A. Cowley Several Disc. by Way of Ess., Verse & Prose 84 in Wks. (1668) I do but slightly touch upon all these particulars of the slavery of Greatness.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. xiii. 457 He bade her good morning, and, bowing slightly to the Count, disappeared.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 294 As the Duke tapped slightly at it, a person..unlocked the door.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. vi. 130 He had breakfasted but slightly.
1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man 17 Sometimes worn down to the surface of the mud, sometimes projecting slightly above it.
b. Used to qualify a following participle or adjective.
ΚΠ
1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. H2 My cause, but slightly knowne, May mooue the harts of warlike Myrmydons.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1666 (1955) III. 438 The D: of Alb: was slightly wounded.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. viii. 89 Those who are even slightly read in our Philosophy.
1761 J. Wesley Primitive Physick (ed. 9) 108 Hold a slice of Apple slightly boiled between the Teeth.
1791 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 22/1 A servant maid, who from her childhood had been slightly deaf.
1835 J. Duncan Nat. Hist. Beetles (Naturalist's Libr.: Entomol. II) 126 The outer edge of the elytra is slightly sinuated at the apex.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xix. 371 To William he was already slightly known.
1884 Cent. Mag. Jan. 419/2 After a heavy rain the stream was..slightly darker in hue.
c. Forming attributive collocations with participles or adjectives, and frequently hyphenated.
ΚΠ
1800 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. I. i. 245 Slightly hairy Trichechus.
1804 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. V. i. 48 Slightly gilded Salmon.
1829 W. Ellis Polynesian Res. I. ii. 55 Resembling..the white of a slightly boiled egg.
1833 C. Lyell Princ. Geol. III. 311 Slightly-worn and angular flints.
1837 J. T. Smith tr. L. J. Vicat Pract. & Sci. Treat. Mortars & Cements 26 A large disengagement of hot slightly-caustic vapour.
1892 W. W. Greener Breech-loader 54 Slightly-used guns of their cheaper qualities.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1521