Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Lightly

Lightly , adverb

1.
With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.
Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast. — Pope
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. — Milton
2.
Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.
So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail. — R. of Brunne
Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word. — Tennyson
3.
Without deep impression.
The soft ideas of the cheerful note, Lightly received, were easily forgot. — Prior
4.
In a small degree; slightly; not severely.
At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun... and afterward did more grievously afflict her. — Is. ix. 1
5.
With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.
That lightly come, shall lightly go. — Old Proverb
They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it. — Sir W. Scott
6.
Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.
Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages. — Jer. Taylor
7.
Commonly; usually. [Obsolete] — Bp. Fisher
The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown. — B. Jonson
8.
Without dejection; cheerfully.
Seeming to bear it lightly. — Shakespeare
9.
Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.
Matrimony... is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly. — Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.]
10.
Not chastely; wantonly. — Swift