BUSILY

busily

(adverb) in a busy manner; “they were busily engaged in buying souvenirs”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adverb

busily (comparative more busily, superlative most busily)

In a busy manner; actively.

Source: Wiktionary

Bus"i*ly, adv.

Definition: In a busy manner.

BUSY

Bus"y, a. Etym: [OE. busi, bisi, AS. bysig; akin to D. bezig, LG. besig; cf. Skr. bh to be active, busy.]

1. Engaged in some business; hard at work (either habitually or only for the time being); occupied with serious affairs; not idle nor at leisure; as, a busy merchant. Sir, my mistress sends you word THat she is busy, and she can not come. Shak.

2. Constantly at work; diligent; active. Busy hammers closing rivets up. Shak. Religious motives . . . are so busy in the heart. Addison.

3. Crowded with business or activities; -- said of places and times; as, a busy street. To-morrow is a busy day. Shak.

4. Officious; meddling; foolish active. On meddling monkey, or on busy ape. Shak.

5. Careful; anxious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn.

– Diligent; industrious; assiduous; active; occupied; engaged.

Bus"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Busied; p. pr. & vb. n. Busying.] Etym: [AS. bysgian.]

Definition: To make or keep busy; to employ; to engage or keep engaged; to occupy; as, to busy one's self with books. Be it thy course to busy giddy minds With foreign quarrels. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition