skittishlyadv.
In a skittish or lively manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > spiritedness or liveliness > [adverb] > in excessively lively manner
skittishly1598
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adverb] > capriciously
unstaidly1556
fantastically1567
humorously1593
skittishly1598
fantasticly1599
garishly1606
humoursomely1653
whimsily1654
quirkishly1673
peevishlya1680
whimsically1711
fancifully1741
capriciously1746
flightily1780
erratically1861
tricksily1866
vagariously1892
quirkily1926
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Ritrosamente, waywardly, frowardly, skittishly.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Sauvagement,..skittishly.
1683 H. Hare Situation of Paradise 93 The Beasts were very plump, and skittishly played as they passed by.
1873 A. D. Whitney Other Girls xxxiv. 448 The animal made a half parenthesis of himself, curving skittishly..as he went by the frightsome pile.
1882 A. Edwardes Ballroom Repent. I. 19 Skittishly tapping the young man's arm with her fan.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adv.1598