WIGHTLY

Etymology

Adverb

wightly (comparative more wightly, superlative most wightly)

(obsolete) Swiftly; nimbly; quickly.

Þanne drede went wiȝtliche · and warned þe fals / And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle.

Source: Wiktionary


Wight"ly, adv.

Definition: Swiftly; nimbly; quickly. [Obs.]

WIGHT

Wight, n.

Definition: Weight. [Obs.]

Wight, n. Etym: [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. vætt a wight, vætt a whit, Goth. waíhts, waíht, thing; cf. Russ. veshche a thing. Whit.]

1. A whit; a bit; a jot. [Obs.] She was fallen asleep a little wight. Chaucer.

2. A supernatural being. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. A human being; a person, either male or female; -- now used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. "Worst of all wightes." Chaucer. Every wight that hath discretion. Chaucer. Oh, say me true if thou wert mortal wight. Milton.

Wight, a. Etym: [OE. wight, wiht, probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. vigr in fighting condition, neut. vigh war, akin to AS. wig See Vanquish.]

Definition: Swift; nimble; agile; strong and active. [Obs. or Poetic] 'T is full wight, God wot, as is a roe. Chaucer. He was so wimble and so wight. Spenser. They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Pilgrims wight with steps forthright. Emerson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

5 June 2025

UNDERLAY

(verb) raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type; “underlay the plate”


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