| 释义 |
wittily, adv.|ˈwɪtɪlɪ|
Forms: see witty a.; also 4–6 wittely (4 -li, Sc. vittely), 5 wyttely.
[f. witty a. + -ly2.]
In a witty manner.
†1. Intelligently, cleverly, ingeniously. Obs.
Not always easily distinguishable from 2.
c1350Will. Palerne 2602 Þat wittily tauȝt hem þe weies whider þei wende scholde. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 4 Of Erþe and Eir hit is mad I-medelet to-gedere, Wiþ wynt and wiþ watur ful wittiliche I-Meint. c1440Promp. Parv. 531/1 Wyttyly, ingeniose. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. Pref. **vj, With fables and tales preatyly and wittyly feigned. 1578Lyte Dodoens Epist. to Queen *ij b, By their diligent inquisition they wittily found out the vse of many [plants]. 1621T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 184 Those women, who..so cunningly and wittily twisted on your fine skaines and clues. 1675J. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Ess. Satyre 133 But is there any other Beast alive, Can his own Harm so wittily contrive? 1682Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. ii. xii. (1716) 69 Of good natural parts,..which did but arm their bad inclinations, and make them wittily wicked.
†2. Wisely, discreetly, sensibly. Obs.
c1350Will. Palerne 4142 Sende wittili to þi wif & warne hire fore. 1375Barbour Bruce v. 264 Gude begynnyng..And it be followit vittely, May [etc.]. Ibid. xiii. 571 Thai war gouernit full wittely. 1465Paston Lett. Suppl. 91 Ye may verely undirstand that it is not guided wittely nor discretly. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. xxxvi. 472 Alysander fought wyldly and not wyttely. 1551Robinson tr. More's Utopia i. (1895) 65 Whose lande is..well and wyttelye gouerned. 1660Sharrock Vegetables 107 Lord Bacon wittily advises to sprinkle a little forrage seed on the strawberry bed. a1700Evelyn Diary 27 Feb. 1676, Dr. Pritchard..preached..very allegorically according to his manner, yet very gravely and wittily. 1702C. Mather Magn. Chr. iii. ii. xxiii. 136 How Learnedly he now conveyed all the Liberal Arts unto those that sat at his Feet; how Wittily he moderated their Disputations. 1825Scott Betrothed vii, Thou hast studied some small revenge on me..and..I think thou hast taken it wittily enough.
3. In a manner characterized by wit (see wit n. 7, 8, witty a. 7, 8); in a cleverly amusing way; with smart jocosity.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. ii. 58 To beginne with some pleasaunt tale or take an occasion to iest wittely. 1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. ii. (1586) 75 b, Hee..can give quip for quip so wittilie that those which begin the skirmish with him boldlie, are faine to retire shamefullie. a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xviii. §5 In conversation wittily pleasant, and pleasantly gamesome. 1691Sir T. P. Blount Ess. i. 19 Therefore one wittily calls these Indulgences Emulgences. 1759Goldsm. Polite Learn. ix. Wks. (Globe) 440/1 When an unexpected similitude in two objects strikes the imagination—in other words, when a thing is wittily expressed. 1869Adam Smith's W.N. ii. ii. I. 326 note, Free trade in banking, it has been wisely and wittily said, is free trade in swindling. 1878A. H. Markham Gt. Frozen Sea ii. 25 As one of our men wittily remarked on seeing his first iceberg, it reminded him strongly of the isle of Wight (white). 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay i, A good deal more talk, partly business, partly wittily told scandal.
†4. Knowingly, wittingly. Obs. rare.
1653Whitfield Treat. Sinf. Men iii. 5 That which he willingly and wittily suffers to be done. 1654Fuller Two Serm. 36 Not willingly, wittily, or wilfully.
¶5. irreg. as adj. = witty a. 4.
c1400Rule St. Benet (verse) 1079 Þat we vs avise,..To say our wil in wordes foune, And þat our wordes be wittely. |