brainilyadv.
/ˈbreɪnᵻli/, U.S. /ˈbreɪnᵻli/ Cleverly, intelligently, in a brainy fashion.
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
1905 Common-Sense Jan. 17/2 An article of merit brainily advertised brings big sales and large profits.
1923 Daily Mail 29 May 12 Against Lewis,..he certainly fought brainily.
1978 N.Y. Mag. 16 Oct. 166/2 Others have used this idea before..but Gordon manipulates the word sequences brainily.
2008 L. Bendrick Eat where you Live ii. 75 [Michael] Pollan, our national food systems pundit, doesn't just think about what he eats; he explores things deeply and brainily.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1905