different between lightly vs fairly

English

Alternative forms

• lighty (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English lyghtly, li?tliche, lihtliche, from Old English l?ohtl??e, equivalent to light +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?la?tli/

Adverb

lightly (comparative lightlier or more lightly, superlative lightliest or most lightly)

1. In a light manner.

   • Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

Derived terms

• take lightly

Translations

References

• lightly at OneLook Dictionary Search
• lightly in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Middle English fayrly, fayrely, vayrliche, equivalent to fair +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?f??(?).li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?f??.li/
• Rhymes: -??(?)li
• Hyphenation: fair?ly

Adverb

fairly (comparative more fairly, superlative most fairly)

1. (manner) In a fair manner; fair; not biased or skewed or favouring a certain party

   Synonyms: justly, frankly

2. Favorably; auspiciously; commodiously.

3. Honestly; properly.
   • 1859, Alexander Easton, A Practical Treatise on Street or Horse-Power Railways, p.108, "Rules adopted by the Sixth Avenue Railway, N. Y.":

     10. You will be civil and attentive to passengers, giving proper assistance to ladies and children getting in or out, and never start the car before passengers are fairly received or landed.
4. Softly; quietly; gently.
5. (degree) Partly, not fully; somewhat.

   Synonyms: somewhat, pretty, quite, somewhat
6. (dated) Almost; practically.
   • 1834, Arthur Courtenay, Autobiography and Letters of Arthur Courtenay (page 36)

     We quadrilled, waltzed, and conversed, in all of which my clever partner excelled; and her charms, combined with the excellent champagne I imbibed, fairly dazzled my imagination.

Usage notes

• This is a non-descriptive qualifier, similar to quite and rather and somewhat, and some other adverbs of degree. Used where a plain adjective needs to be modified, but cannot be qualified. When spoken, the meaning can vary with the tone of voice and stress. He was fairly big can mean anything from "not exactly small" to "almost huge".

Translations