adroitly

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English adroit

Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der.

Proto-Germanic *līkąder.

Proto-Germanic *-līkaz

Proto-Germanic *-ê

Proto-Germanic *-līkê

Proto-West Germanic *-līkē

Old English -līċe

Middle English -ly

English -ly

English adroitly

From adroit + -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈdɹɔɪtli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adverb

adroitly (comparative more adroitly, superlative most adroitly)

1. Deftly; in an adroit manner.
   • 1902, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Bush Studies (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 44:

     Adroitly the ewe led the way to the creek, and the lamb followed.

   • 1968, Carl Ruhen, The Key Club, Sydney: Scripts, page 40:

     She held out her empty glass and it was adroitly whisked from her hand.

   • 1983, Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic, published 2022, page 140:

     The horse pounded surefooted along the tunnels, leaping sudden slides of rubble and adroitly sidestepping huge stones as they thundered down from the straining roof.

2. In a manner exhibiting skill at handling situations, particularly difficult situations.

Translations

in an adroit manner

• Polish: zręcznie (pl), zwinnie (pl), zgrabnie (pl)

Anagrams

• dilatory, idolatry