sweetly

From Middle English swetly, swetely, sweteliche, from Old English swētlīċe (“sweetly; pleasantly”), equivalent to sweet +‎ -ly. Cognate with Old High German swuozlīhho (“sweetly”), Icelandic sætlega (“sweetly; with gratitude”), German süßlich (“sweetish; sugary”), Dutch zoetelijk (“sentimental”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈswiːtli/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: sweet‧ly

sweetly (comparative sweetlier or more sweetly, superlative sweetliest or most sweetly)

1. With a sweet taste or aroma.
2. In a sweet or pleasant manner.
   • 1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 232:

     "No, Auntie," said Hardman, sweetly, seriously.

3. Nicely; finely; excellently.
   • 2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 21:

     Sitting in the seat with the engine off before that day, the gears slid in so sweetly, and double de-clutching was so easy, I had done it a million times.

• Westley