starrilyadv.
/ˈstɑːrᵻli/, U.S. /ˈstɑrəli/ 1. In the manner or form of a star (star n.1 1a); as or like a star or stars; (often) brightly, with lustre.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [adverb] > like a star
starlike1595
starrily1835
1835 Gardener's Mag. May 263 A single partly pendulous flower, whose sepals, six, spread starrily to the breadth of a shilling.
a1849 T. L. Beddoes Poems (1851) I. 180 Starrily clothed in a garment white.
1870 E. Lear Jrnl. Landscape Painter Corsica vii. 157 Their pale bright flowers shining starrily.
1928 A. Huxley Point Counter Point vi. 103 The inhabitants of a world of thought starrily remote from theirs peered at them, as the car flashed past, from creaking bullock carts.
1990 Quarterly (U.S.) Fall 108 See the tiny holes punched starrily into the hard brown leather!
2013 Evening Standard (Nexis) 15 Nov. 43 A Scandi winter wonderland with a starrily lit wigwam and open fire pits.
2. So as to be full of stars, with many stars (star n.1 4c). Also: in a manner befitting or characteristic of a star. Cf. starry adj. 6b.
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1938 Illustr. London News 7 May 830/3 Mr. Coward's ‘Operette’: starrily cast, pleasantly scored, amusingly dressed.
1956 Illustr. London News 11 Aug. 240/1 He has foresworn his uncle, and prances around in Bernard's wake, starrily denouncing the wickedness of the rich.
1964 Guardian 16 Mar. 7/4 Jack Wilson..thrusts his face starrily towards the arc-lights and plays symphonies on his vocal cords whenever he speaks of love or idealism.
1984 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 26 May i. 11 A starrily cast opera-in-concert has traditionally been the highlight..of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra season.
2011 Sunday Times (Nexis) 26 June 5 He arrives rather starrily in a black Mercedes.
2014 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 23 Aug. 50 Jane Austen's novel, starrily dramatised in two parts.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1835