adv. Obs. Forms: 1 lýtl-, lítlum, lítlan, 3 lutlen, 4 lytul-, litel-, lutlum, 4–5 litlum. [OE. lýtlum, dat. pl. neut. of lýtel LITTLE, used advb.] Little by little, gradually: chiefly repeated, litlum and litlum; also (rarely) by litlum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxxviii. (Z.), 228. Paulatim, lytlum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xl. 10. Ic ʓeseah þær on weaxende blosman litlum and litlum.
a. 1123. O. E. Chron., an. 1110 (Laud MS.). Syððan litlan and litlan his leoht wanode.
c. 1205. Lay., 3569. Makie him god baid … & him blod lete lutlen [c. 1275 lutel] and ofte.
c. 1225. St. Marher., 12. Þat liht alei lutlen ant lutlen.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 599. Lere hem litlum & lytlum [1393 C. XVIII. 320 lytulum and lytulum; v.rr. lit(e)lum and lit(e)lum, litel and (bi) litel].
a. 1380. St. Ambrose, 533, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 16. A schort fuir … lutlum and lutlum In to his mouþ crep hole and sum.
c. 1425. St. Mary of Oignies, I. vi. in Anglia, VIII. 139/9. Hee þat rekkiþ not smale thinges falliþ doune by litlum.
