remissly, adv.
(rɪˈmɪslɪ)
[f. remiss a. + -ly2.]
1. In a remiss, lax, or indifferent manner; carelessly, negligently, slackly.
| 1532–3 Act 24 Hen. VIII, c. 11 Them that remisly or insufficiently shall here after mainteyne the same pauement. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xi. §4 It is not in our power not to do the same; how should it then be in our power to do it coldly or remissly? 1628 Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 94 Yet we that live remissly undertake as great dangers as they. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 613 It is hardly to be believed, how negligently and remissly that Nation..took these Things. a 1715 Burnet Own Time iii. (1724) I. 425 Lord Danby..could not give much credit to it, and handled the matter too remissly. 1752 Carte Hist. Eng. III. 423 Presenting the matter at first with a seeming eagerness, but proceeding afterwards more remisly. 1805 Wordsw. Prelude iii. 322 The months passed on, remissly,..in vague And loose indifference. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. I. 50 At the same time they acted very remissly against their foreign kinsmen. |
† 2. Faintly, indistinctly. Obs. rare.
| 1530 Palsgr. 24 The consonant shalbe but remissely sounded. 1577 Dee Relat. Spir. i. (1659) 95 He pronounceth the i so remissely, as it is scarce heard. |
† 3. Gently, feebly; without vigour. Obs.
| 1642 R. Carpenter Experience v. xviii. 314 And therefore it will worke in them awhile though at length weakly and remissely. 1692 Ray Disc. 142 Being very much deaded..and burning very remisly in Summer time and hot Weather. |
† 4. Moderately, slightly. Obs. rare—1.
| 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. iii. 112 In hot Diseases simply Cold things are no way expedient, but things remisly hot. |