Lightly \Light"ly\, adv.

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.]

--Bp. Fisher.

The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown. --B. Jonson.

8. Without dejection; cheerfully. ``Seeming to bear it lightly.'' --Shak.

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.]

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10. Not chastely; wantonly. --Swift.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)