▪ I. tightly, adv.
(ˈtaɪtlɪ)
[f. tight a. + -ly2.]
In a tight manner.
1. Soundly, properly, well; effectively; stoutly, vigorously. Cf. tight a. 3. Now dial.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. iii. 88 Hold Sirha, beare you these Letters tightly. Ibid. ii. iii. 67 He will Clapper-claw thee tightly. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. ii. ii, He shall heare on't, and that tightly too. a 1625 Fletcher, etc. Fair Maid Inn ii. ii, When we have cozen'd 'em most tightly, thou shalt steal away the innkeeper's daughter. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew s.v. Sock, I'll Drub ye tightly. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 193 Our eight Boats..pursued them so tightly, that..by Noon our Boats were all got within a quarter of a League of 'em. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. 163 He stood up titely to them. 1786 Burns Inventory 41 An' ay on Sundays duly nightly, I on the questions [= catechism] tairge them tightly. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Tightly,..promptly; actively; alertly. |
2. With constriction, tension, or compression; closely, tensely; strictly; not loosely. Also fig.
| 1758 Rutty Spir. Diary (ed. 2) 104 A busy week; yet kept to all meetings tightly. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 60/1 A paper, wrapped in a wax cloth..bound tightly down with a string. 1816 Scott Let. 22 Nov., I have settled Walter tightly to his Greek and Latin. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society iii. 145 Anything which binds any part of the body tightly impedes the circulation. 1879 Stevenson Trav. Cevennes (1886) 34, I was tightly cross-examined about my journey. 1883 Harper's Mag. Nov. 904/2 The contests were..more tightly fought out than by the trotting equines. |
3. Firmly, securely.
| 1866 Mrs. Gaskell Wives & Dau. xlviii, Trying to take one of his hands; but he kept them tightly in his pockets. 1898 F. Montgomery Tony 13 Their hands clasped tightly. |
4. Neatly, tidily, smartly.
| 1825–9 Mrs. Sherwood Lady of Manor II. xv. 297 It does me good to see you going about..so tightly dressed in your neat little cap and blue apron. |
5. In comb. with ppl. adj. (used attrib.), as tightly-clenched, tightly-corsetted, tightly-reined, tightly-wrapped, etc.
| 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. xii. III. 292 The tightly-strained white kid gloves. 1866 Howells Venet. Life xi. 154 Her tightly-corsetted waist. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. iii, Between her tightly-clenched teeth. |
▪ II. tightly, tiȝtli
erroneous spellings of titely.