Wittily

adv. Forms: see WITTY a.; also 4–6 wittely (4 -li, Sc. vittely), 5 wyttely. [f. WITTY a. + -LY².] In a witty manner.

  † 1.  Intelligently, cleverly, ingeniously. Obs.

  Not always easily distinguishable from 2.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2602. Þat wittily tauȝt hem þe weies whider þei wende scholde.

1363.  Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 4. Of Erþe and Eir hit is mad I-medelet to-gedere, Wiþ wynt and wiþ watur ful wittiliche I-Meint.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 531/1. Wyttyly, ingeniose.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., Pref. **vj. With fables and tales preatyly and wittyly feigned.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, Epist. to Queen *ij b. By their diligent inquisition they wittily found out the vse of many [plants].

1621.  T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 184. Those women, who … so cunningly and wittily twisted on your fine skaines and clues.

1675.  J. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Ess. Satyre, 133. But is there any other Beast alive, Can his own Harm so wittily contrive?

1682.  Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., II. xii. (1716), 69. Of good natural parts,… which did but arm their bad inclinations, and make them wittily wicked.

  † 2.  Wisely, discreetly, sensibly. Obs.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4142. Sende wittili to þi wif & warne hire fore.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, V. 264. Gude begynnyng … And it be followit vittely, May [etc.]. Ibid., XIII. 571. Thai war gouernit full wittely.

1465.  Paston Lett., Suppl. 91. Ye may verely undirstand that it is not guided wittely nor discretly.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. xxxvi. 472. Alysander fought wyldly and not wyttely.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, I. (1895), 65. Whose lande is … well and wyttelye gouerned.

1660.  Sharrock, Vegetables, 107. Lord Bacon wittily advises to sprinkle a little forrage seed on the strawberry bed.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 27 Feb. 1676. Dr. Pritchard … preached … very allegorically according to his manner, yet very gravely and wittily.

1702.  C. Mather, Magn. Chr., III. II. xxiii. 136. How Learnedly he now conveyed all the Liberal Arts unto those that sat at his Feet; how Wittily he moderated their Disputations.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, vii. Thou hast studied some small revenge on me … and … I think thou hast taken it wittily enough.

  3.  In a manner characterized by wit (see WIT sb. 7, 8, WITTY a. 7, 8); in a cleverly amusing way; with smart jocosity.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet., II. 58. To beginne with some pleasaunt tale or take an occasion to iest wittely.

1581.  Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 75 b. Hee … can give quip for quip so wittilie that those which begin the skirmish with him boldlie, are faine to retire shamefullie.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xviii. § 5. In conversation wittily pleasant, and pleasantly gamesome.

1691.  Sir T. P. Blount, Ess., i. 19. Therefore one wittily calls these Indulgences Emulgences.

1759.  Goldsm., Pres. St. Pol. Learn., ix. Wks. (Globe), 440/1. When an unexpected similitude in two objects strikes the imagination—in other words, when a thing is wittily expressed.

1869.  Adam Smith’s W. N., II. ii. I. 326, note. Free trade in banking, it has been wisely and wittily said, is free trade in swindling.

1878.  A. H. Markham, Gt. Frozen Sea, ii. 25. As one of our men wittily remarked on seeing his first iceberg, it reminded him strongly of the isle of Wight (white).

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, i. A good deal more talk, partly business, partly wittily told scandal.

  † 4.  Knowingly, wittingly. Obs. rare.

1653.  Whitfield, Treat. Sinf. Men, iii. 5. That which he willingly and wittily suffers to be done.

1654.  Fuller, Two Serm., 36. Not willingly, wittily, or wilfully.

  ¶ 5.  irreg. as adj. = WITTY a. 4.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (verse), 1079. Þat we vs avise,… To say our wil in wordes foune, And þat our wordes be wittely.