(deftly)
1Deftly — Deft ly, adv. [Cf. {Defly}.] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. Deftly dancing. Drayton. [1913 Webster] Thyself and office deftly show. Shak. [1913 Webster] …
2deftly — mid 15c., from DEFT (Cf. deft) + LY (Cf. ly) (2) …
3deftly — adv. Deftly is used with these verbs: ↑avoid, ↑manipulate, ↑manoeuvre …
4deftly — deft ► ADJECTIVE ▪ quick and neatly skilful. DERIVATIVES deftly adverb deftness noun. ORIGIN variant of DAFT(Cf. ↑daft), in the obsolete sense «meek» …
5deftly — adverb 1. with dexterity; in a dexterous manner dextrously he untied the knots • Syn: ↑dexterously, ↑dextrously • Derived from adjective: ↑deft, ↑dextrous (for: ↑ …
6deftly adv — I can no longer hear anything, said Tom deftly …
7deftly — adverb see deft …
8deftly — See deft. * * * …
9deftly — adverb in a deft manner, i.e. quickly and neatly in action Syn: skillfully Ant: unskillfully …
10deftly — Synonyms and related words: ably, adeptly, adroitly, agilely, aptly, artfully, artistically, brilliantly, capably, cleverly, competently, cunningly, dexterously, dextrously, efficiently, excellently, expertly, featly, handily, ingeniously,… …
