cleverlyadv.
/ˈklɛvəli/, U.S. /ˈklɛvərli/ In a clever manner.† 3. Nimbly; lightly, mobilely; agilely.† 4. Handily, conveniently, commodiously; hence, agreeably, nicely. Obsolete. (Cf. clever adj. 7, 8.)
1. With manual skill or dexterity, in a handy way; dexterously, adroitly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with physical skill
listlyc1000
featouslya1375
featlyc1400
deftlya1500
expedient1509
deliverly1530
handsomely1530
courteouslya1533
neatlya1547
dexteriously1605
cleverly1614
featilya1640
dexterously1646
deft1805
neat1822
handily1832
as neat (also nice, right, etc.) as ninepence1857
1614 G. Meriton Christian Mans Assuring House 8 That surgion deserveth praise who lightly presseth the wound, and handleth it cleverlie with the tops of his fingers.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 30 These would..sometimes catch 'em with a snap As cleverly as th' ablest trap.
1694 R. South 12 Serm. II. 602 A Rogue upon the High-way may have as strong an Arm, and take off a man's Head as cleverly as the Executioner.
1798 R. Southey Eng. Eclogues 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.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adverb]
craftilyeOE
craftlyOE
smeighlyc1200
slylyc1275
quaintlyc1300
wittily1362
cunninglyc1385
subtilelyc1405
knowinglyc1450
industriouslyc1487
ingeniously1548
cleanly1583
intelligently1601
dexterously1605
conceitedly1606
cleverly1654
gnostically1823
comprehendingly1866
brainily1905
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > skilfully or adroitly
slylyc1275
sly1370
featly1436
addresslya1500
sleightly?c1510
clean1531
trickly1542
neatlya1547
trick1564
cleanly1583
cleverly1654
clever1664
adroitly1695
adeptly1804
slick1825
shrewdly1851
cleverishly1881
slickly1893
niftily1901
eptly1974
1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iv. iii. 185 The Queen..went very cleverly on with the rest of the story.
1657 T. Atkin Let. in T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Northumb. 309 He made an excellent good Sermon, and went cleaverly through, without the help of any notes.
1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. i. 17 If I speak a Word, he turns it off..so cleverly, that I can't put in another Word for my Life.
a1771 C. Smart Horatian Canons of Friendship in Poems (1791) II. 165 Never was man so cleverly absurd.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz in La Saisiaz: Two Poets of Croisic 82 The thing may be so cleverly declined!
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > bodily movement > [adverb] > agilely or nimbly
lighteOE
lightly?a1200
wightlyc1330
deliverlya1375
swipperly?a1400
wakerly?a1400
wighta1400
yaplya1400
featlyc1400
nimblyc1450
lightsomely1561
nimble1568
wimbly1594
yarelya1616
yare1622
featilya1640
agilely1663
cleverly1686
spry1855
lissomely1902
spryly1905
cattishly1913
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. iv. 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 Inheritance III. xxii. 231 He desired the servant to fetch Mrs. S. cleverly, for that her Ladyship..was in a fit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adverb]
gainlyc1175
covenablyc1384
goodlyc1405
commodiously1420
handsomely1538
gainfully1549
conveniently1633
cleverly1697
commodely1749
commody1766
handily1793
accommodatingly1796
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adverb] > and pleasing
comelyOE
winlyc1000
comelilyc1400
trimly?a1513
trima1547
sweetly1594
cleverly1697
nicely1714
tidy1824
sweet1846
wally1847
1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 105 Cartesius made choice of Extension wittily, that he might thus more cleaverly bring all Physicks to Mathematicks.
a1777 Foote This letter comes quite cleverly.
1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship viii. 36 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 dialect and U.S. Cf. clever adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] > completely, quite, or absolutely
faira1325
quitec1330
full outa1382
straightly1395
absolutely?a1425
quitementa1450
rightc1450
twighta1500
cleara1522
plain1535
flat1577
sincerely1583
clever1664
cleverly1696
sublimely1722
square1862
quaite1864
fucking A1960
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1696 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (1697) 170 But (alas!)..they do not go cleverly off from the abovesaid Damnable Errors.
1788 T. Jefferson Writings (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 T. C. Haliburton Attaché viii The landlord comes to me, as soon as I was cleverly up this morning.
1884 R. Holland Gloss. Words County of Chester (1886) Cleverly, completely.
6. to win cleverly: (in horse racing) to win neatly after a close contest, with rather more advantage than seemed likely.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > win
to win (also lose, etc.) by a head1743
(to win or lose) by a neck1791
to win in a canter1853
to win cleverly1881
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. dialect. Well (in health). Cf. clever adj. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy
wholeeOE
isoundOE
i-sundfulc1000
ferec1175
soundc1175
fish-wholea1225
forthlyc1230
steadfasta1300
wella1300
safec1300
tidya1325
halec1330
quartc1330
well-faringc1330
well-tempered1340
well-disposeda1398
wealyc1400
furnished1473
mighty?a1475
quartful?c1475
good1527
wholesomea1533
crank1548
healthful1550
healthy1552
hearty1552
healthsome1563
well-affected?1563
disposed1575
as sound as a bell1576
firm1577
well-conditioned1580
sound1605
unvaletudinary1650
all right1652
valid1652
as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655
fair-like1663
hoddy1664
wanton1674
stout?1697
trig1704
well-hained1722
sprack1747
caller1754
sane1755
finely1763
bobbish1780
cleverly1784
right1787
smart1788
fine1791
eucratic1795
nobbling1825
as right as a trivet1835
first rate1841
in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844
gay1855
sprackish1882
game ball1905
abled1946
well-toned1952
a hundred per cent1960
oke1960
1784 A. Adams Lett. (1848) 212 She is cleverly now, although she had a severe turn for a week.
1816 J. Pickering Vocab. U.S. 63.
1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) Cleverly..much used in some parts of New England, instead of well or very well..‘How do you do?’ ‘I am cleverly’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.1614