adv. Obs. (or dial.) Forms: α: 1 listelíce, 3 listeliche, 4 lystily, -yly, listely. β. 4 listli, lystly, 4–6, (9) listly. [OE. listelíce (= ON. listulega elegantly, cunningly), f. list skill, art (? u stem: cf. ON. listug-r skilled, polite). With reference to the formation see note s.v. GREEDILY.] Cunningly, craftily, deftly.
α. c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 30. Seoð þonne æt leohtum fyre listelice oþ huniʓes þicnesse.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 666, in O. E. Misc., 137. He wole stelin þin haite and keren, and listeliche on-suerren.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1190. He … layde hym doun lystyly, & let as he slepte. Ibid., 1334. Þen brek þay þe bale, þe balez out token, Lystily forlancing, & bere of þe knot.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 25. Þat litel child listely looked out of his caue.
β. c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2742. He ful listli hem ledes to þat loueli schippe.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 307. He … lystly lousit sone þe band, Þat thomas had in fwte & hand. Ibid., xxxviii. (Adrian), 296. Scho … softyt hurtis þat ware sare, & listly als kemmyt þare hare.
1508. Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 100. This lady … leit him listly lene vpone his kne.
[1847. Halliwell, Listly,… easily, distinctly.]
