different between lightly vs wightly

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 wight +? -ly.

Adverb

wightly (comparative more wightly, superlative most wightly)

1. (obsolete) Swiftly; nimbly; quickly.
   • c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, II:

     Þanne drede went wi?tliche · and warned þe fals / And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle.