cleverly, adv.
(ˈklɛvəlɪ)
[f. clever + -ly2.]
In a clever manner.
1. With manual skill or dexterity, in a handy way; dexterously, adroitly.
| 1614 Meriton Chr. Assuring-ho. 8 That surgion deserveth praise who lightly presseth the wound, and handleth it cleverlie with the tops of his fingers. 1663 Butler Hud. i. i. 398 These would..sometimes catch them with a snap, As cleverly as th' ablest trap. a 1716 South (J.), A rogue upon the highway may have as strong an arm, and take off a man's head as cleverly, as the executioner. 1798 Southey Eng. Eclog. iv, He made them [traps] cleverly..And..I was pleased To see the boy so handy. |
2. With skilful use of the intellect, skilfully, adroitly, dexterously, neatly. (The current use.)
| 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. iii. 185 The Queen..went very cleverly on with the rest of the story. 1657 Let. in Fuller Worthies (1811) II. 195 He made an excellent good Sermon, and went cleaverly through, without the help of any notes. 1722 De Foe Relig. Courtsh. i. i. (1840) 15 If I speak a word, he turns it off..so cleverly, that I can't put in another word for my life. 1756 Smart Horatian Canons of Friendship (R.), Never was man so cleverly absurd. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 82 The thing may be so cleverly declined! |
† 3. Nimbly; lightly, mobilely; agilely.
| 1679 Plot Staffordsh. (1686) 166 A Leaden-Coffin..that swam so cleverly in 9 inches water, that one might thrust it to and fro with a common walking stick. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inher. lxxxviii, He desired the servant to fetch Mrs. S. cleverly, for that her Ladyship..was in a fit. |
† 4. Handily, conveniently, commodiously; hence, agreeably, nicely. Obs. (Cf. clever 7–8.)
| 1697 J. Serjeant Solid Philos. 105 Cartesius made choice of Extension wittily, that he might thus more cleaverly bring all Physicks to Mathematicks. a 1777 Foote, This letter comes quite cleverly. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsem. viii. (1809) 101, I could wish..to give them an airing..on a Sunday..but this I cannot cleverly do on a single horse. |
5. Fairly, fully, completely; quite, ‘clean’. Now dial. and U.S. Cf. clever B.
| 1696 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (1697) 170 But (alas!)..they do not go cleverly off from the abovesaid Damnable Errors. 1788 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 457 While our second revolution is just brought to a happy end with you, yours here is but cleverly under way. 1843–4 Haliburton Sam Slick in Eng. viii. (Bartlett), The landlord comes to me, as soon as I was cleverly up this morning. 1884 Cheshire Gloss., Cleverly, completely. |
6. to win cleverly (Horse-racing): to win neatly after a close contest, with rather more advantage than seemed likely.
| 1881 Daily Tel. 23 June, The latter got the best of it, and won cleverly by a neck. 1885 Truth 28 May 855/1 Mr. Gerard's colt would have won cleverly if he had not been interfered with early in the race. |
7. U.S. dial. Well (in health). Cf. clever 4 b.
| 1784 A. Adams Lett. (1848) 212 She is cleverly now, although she had a severe turn for a week. 1816 Pickering Vocab. 63. 1860 Bartlett Dict. Amer., Cleverly..much used in some parts of New England, instead of well or very well..‘How do you do?’ ‘I am cleverly’. |