Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
sleightly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
sleightly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
sleightly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
sleightly you have here. The definition of the word
sleightly will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
sleightly, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English sleightely; equivalent to sleight + -ly.
Adverb
sleightly (comparative more sleightly, superlative most sleightly)
- (obsolete) With cunning; dexterously.
1658, Samuel Crooke, Τα Διαφεροντα, or Divine characters in two parts, acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between 1. The Hypocrite in his best dresse of seeming virtues and formal duties. And the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience. As also between 2. The blackest weeds of dayly infirmities of the truly godly, eclipsing saving grace, and the reigning sinnes of the unregenerate that pretend unto that godlinesse they never had, page 218:He healeth others sleightly, because he is sick of the same malady
1994, William Harrison, Georges Edelen, The Description of England, page 134:The raveled is a kind of cheat bread also, but it retaineth more of the gorss and less of the pure substance of the wheat; and this , being more sleightly wrought up, is used in the halls of the nobility and gentry only, whereas the other [cheat bread] either is or should be baked, in cities and good towns, of an appointed size (according to such price as the corn doth bear) and by a statute provided by King John in that behalf.
Middle English
Adverb
sleightly
- Alternative form of sleightely