sportinglyadv.
/ˈspɔːtɪŋli/, U.S. /ˈspɔrdɪŋli/ 1. In a manner calculated to amuse or entertain; in or with jesting words or speech; wittily, satirically; facetiously, mischievously. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > lack of seriousness > [adverb]
agamec1300
bourdfullya1400
in sportc1450
aplay1459
bourdly1500
in jest1551
bourdingly1552
sportingly1561
jestingly1569
sportingwise1579
sportfullya1586
sportively1656
for fun1750
flippantly1758
pour rire1872
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. f. 9 In an other place hee seemeth sportyngly to mocke at the vse of that woorde [sc. free] when hee sayde, that wyll was in deede free, butte not made free.
?1567 Def. Priestes Mariages (new ed.) 117 Consideryng hym to bee a yonge man and a Ciuilian: I could not refraine my penne, but thus sportyngly, to bee a Comentar of his booke.
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Argt. 211 Pythagoras..first toucheth the condition and estate of him, whether seriously or sportingly, it is vncertaine.
a1659 R. Brownrig 65 Serm. (1674) II. 5 The mysteries of Religion are not slightly..or sportingly to be handled.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey II. 63 Besides, continued I a little sportingly—I have come laughing all the way from London to Paris.
1848 S. Warren Now & Then iv. 173 I sportingly said ‘No, come with us.’
1876 J. Hodgson Cradle of Confederacy 345 The Free Soil newspapers sportingly alluded to ‘the Sharpe's rifle argument’.
1982 Phoenix 4 342 Ausonius sportingly attributes to himself the traditional poverty of professors.
2. With lively or playful action or demeanour; in a merry, light-hearted, or sprightly manner. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > playfulness > [adverb]
gamelya1375
gamefullyc1410
gamesomelya1425
wantonlya1475
sportfullya1586
sportively1597
lasciviously1607
puppy-like1617
sportinglya1639
playsomely1646
playfully1736
disportively1810
kittenishly1896
a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) ii. xxvi. 22 Sports must be done sportingly, not with the like seriousnesse..as serious matters.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) 103 The river Ex..sportingly disperseth itself into branches.
1776 S. J. Pratt Pupil of Pleasure (1777) I. 46 Catching up a myrtle-sprig, [I] kept it, sportingly, as if to conceal a new sigh.
c1789 New Liverpool Songster 337 How echoes the horn in the vale, Whose notes do so sportingly dance on the gale.
a1828 J. G. C. Brainard Poems (1842) l. 2 The light wave..sportingly Catching the silver on its deep blue side, Throws it in spangles on the westering tide.
1890 Harper's Mag. Dec. 25 She picked a single wee raisin from its stem, and sportingly, as it were bit it between her teeth.
1998 Birmingham Post (Nexis) 9 Mar. 13 The second movement was sportingly portrayed with the restful sections heightened by extensive dynamic changes.
3. Towards sport or enjoyment. Chiefly with disposed and inclined.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > [adverb]
playinglya1400
sportingly1646
recreationally1914
1646 H. Hammond View Exceptions to Visct. Falkland's Disc. Infallibilitie 156 I told you the applying of it to that place would have afforded some game if I had beene so sportingly disposed.
1776 London Mag. Jan. 34/1 There are doctors also, sportingly inclined, holding out the King's image and superscription.
1851 W. J. O'Neill Daunt Gentleman in Debt I. vi. 64 He was sportingly inclined, and being a favourite with the gentry of the district, was freely permitted to enjoy the pleasures of the chase.
2001 Courier Mail (Queensland) (Nexis) 2 Jan. 11 In a society which is increasingly becoming sedentary, boys who are not sportingly inclined should be encouraged to be active.
4. In a manner relating to or characteristic of sport or sporting activity; (also) like a sportsman; in a generous, fair-minded, or tolerant manner; gamely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > [adverb]
sportingly1798
venatically1887
society > leisure > sport > [adverb]
sportsmanlike1740
sportingly1798
1798 Sporting Mag. 11 57 Fertile fabrications so sportingly portrayed.
1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 29 872 He was beat by three good lengths... But to speak less sportingly [etc.].
1844 W. H. Maxwell Wanderings in Highlands & Islands I. iii. 67 No man rode more sportingly to hounds.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 21 Dec. 4/2 Next to good sport, the honest English sportsman likes to dress sportingly.
1937 Piqua (Ohio) Daily Call 27 Nov. 1/4 Trimly uniformed officers and sportingly attired collegians chaperoned pretty girls.
1989 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 12 Sept. (Good Living section) 3 Le Court Restaurant is also sportingly themed for the lady had some reputation in tennis circles.
1997 J. Richards Films & Brit. Nat. Identity i. 4 These two characters have much in common... Both act decently, sportingly and with restraint.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1561