stalkily

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English

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Etymology

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From stalky +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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stalkily (not comparable)

  1. In a stalky manner.
    1. Like, or as if made up of, one or several stalks or sticks; with a tall and thin appearance; lankily.
      • 1879 May 14, “Grappling the Grosvenor”, in Fun, volume XXIX, number 731, London: Published (for the proprietors) by T. Moffitt, [], →OCLC, page 203, column 2:
        Oh, can it be their weariness that makes them lounge so stalkily, / And wear their flesh so flaccidly, and granulate, and chalkily?
      • 1945, Dan Wickenden, The Wayfarers, New York, N.Y.: William Morrow and Company, →OCLC, page 46:
        The conductor emerged from the wings, tall and lean in his tailcoat, and moved stalkily across the platform; applause began in the front rows and worked its way back gradually to the far reaches of the hall, where people were talking in a sudden frenzy, as if they had a great deal to get said before silence was enjoined upon them.
      • 1996, Lawrence Norfolk, The Pope’s Rhinoceros, London: Sinclair-Stevenson, →ISBN; republished London: Vintage, 1998, →ISBN, page 414:
        Little stands of trees stand in stooks, stalkily bundled and clumped by giants.
    2. As if covertly following or hunting a person; sneakily, surreptitiously.
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Translations

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