smilingly

English

Etymology

smiling +‎ -ly

Adverb

smilingly (comparative more smilingly, superlative most smilingly)

1. In a smiling manner; with a smile.
   • 1589, George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie, Chapter 8,^[1]

     But me thinks at these words I heare some smilingly say, I would be loath to lacke liuing of my own till the Prince gaue me a maner of new Elme for my riming […]

   • 1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act V, Scene 3,^[2]

     But his flaw’d heart,

     Alack, too weak the conflict to support!

     ’Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,

     Burst smilingly.

   • 1753, Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison in a Series of Letters, London: William Miller, 1811, Volume II, Letter 28, p. 279,^[3]

     He looked smilingly serious.

   • 1816, John Keats, “Sleep and Poetry,”^[4]

     Lo! how they murmur, laugh, and smile, and weep:

     Some with upholden hand and mouth severe;

     Some with their faces muffled to the ear

     Between their arms; some, clear in youthful bloom,

     Go glad and smilingly athwart the gloom;

     Some looking back, and some with upward gaze;

     Yes, thousands in a thousand different ways

     Flit onward […]

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 27,^[5]

     So Amelia gave Dobbin her little hand as she got out of the carriage, and rebuked him smilingly for not having taken any notice of her all night.

   • 1909, R. Austin Freeman, “The Man with the Nailed Shoes,” in John Thorndyke’s Cases,^[6]

     […] Thorndyke, having unstrapped the hamper with as much care as if it contained a collection of priceless porcelain, bore it tenderly up to his bedroom; whence he appeared, after a considerable interval, smilingly apologetic for the delay.