deftly, adv.
(ˈdɛftlɪ)
Also 6–8 deffly, 7 defly, deaftly.
[f. deft + -ly2.]
In a deft manner.
1. Aptly, skilfully, cleverly, dexterously, nimbly.
The sense of the first quot. is doubtful.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 100 God looke over the raw, full defly ye stand. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Apr. 111 They dauncen deffly, and singen soote. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. i. 68 Come high or low: Thy Selfe and Office, deaftly show. 1607 Dekker Knt.'s Conjur. (1842) 71 You shall see swaynes defly piping, and virgins chastly dancing. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 655 The mattocke would pull vp the seed, and therefore they must be vnderdigd very deftly. 1710 Philips Pastorals i. 29 How deffly to mine Oaten Reed so sweet Wont they upon the Green, to shift their Feet? 1808 Scott Marm. iii. viii, The harp full deftly can he strike. 1856 R. A. Vaughan Mystics (1860) II. 97 The deftly-woven threadwork of the tissues. |
2. Neatly, tidily, trimly; prettily, handsomely. Still dial.
| 1579 G. Gilpin tr. Marnix's Beehive Rom. Ch. Z 5 (N.) Deftly deck'd with all costly jewels, like puppets. 1589 Pasquil's Ret. B iij b, Verie defflie set out, with Pompes, Pagents, Motions..Impreases. 1847 J. Wilson Chr. North (1857) II. 4 Deftly arrayed in home-spun drapery. 1859 Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. II. i. 6 The grass which deftly covers without hiding. |
3. Softly, gently, quietly. dial.
| 1787 Grose Prov. Gloss., Deftly, softly, leisurely. 1802 Wordsw. Stanzas, ‘Within our happy Castle’ 58 A pipe on which the wind would deftly play. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss., Deftly, quietly, softly. 1873 Swaledale Gloss., Deftly, neatly, gently, softly, orderly: see Cannily. |