Smoothly

adv. Forms: 4 smoþely, 5–6 smothely, 6 smothly, 6– smoothly, 7 smouthly. [f. SMOOTH a.]

  1.  In a smooth manner; with smooth, easy, or gentle movement or motion; gently.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 407. Þou me smoþely has smyten.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 732. I schal … let hem smolt al unsmyten smoþely atonez.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Col. Cloute, 1254. The forecastell of my shyp Shall glyde, and smothely slyp Out of the wawes wod.

1594.  Kyd, Cornelia, IV. ii. H. O beautious Tyber, with thine easie streames, That glide as smothly as a Parthian shaft.

1612.  Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 2. To make a Launcet himself which will enter smoothly.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., VI. i. (1848), 340. A belief that the toothsome would make the nutritive part go smoothly down.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 47. I brushed smoothly, but closely by the man.

1784.  Cowper, Task, II. 262. That winds and waters … May bear us smoothly to the Gallic shore.

1805.  Wordsw., Waggoner, IV. 62. Where, smoothly urged, the vapours sweep Along.

1886.  Manch. Exam., 8 Jan., 6/1. The sleighs skim along very smoothly and lightly.

  transf.  1597.  Drayton, Heroical Ep., Q. Kath. to O. Tudor, 137. The Brittish language … runnes as smoothly from those lypps of thine, As the pure Thuskan from the Florantine.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. ii. 33. Carpet-mongers, whose name yet runne smoothly in the euen rode of a blanke verse.

  Comb.  1805.  Wordsw., Waggoner, II. 108. A gallant, stately Man-of-war, Fixed on a smoothly-sliding car.

1888.  Lees & Clutterbuck, B. C. 1887, xxx. 334. The broad surface of the now smoothly-flowing Kootenay.

  2.  So as to present or leave a smooth, even or level surface; evenly, regularly.

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. 71. A longe trayne of men of armes al clos togyder and renged full smothely.

1641.  G. Sandys, Paraphr. Song Sol., IV. i. Thy Teeth like Sheep in their return From Chison, washt, and smoothly shorn.

1713.  Guardian, No. 168. Beneath the Shade of flowing Jet The Iv’ry Forehead smoothly set.

1813.  J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 449. A bandage … should be applied, as smoothly as can be possibly performed.

1877.  Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 121. The rocks they contain, generally smoothly worn, but not fully rounded, are [etc.].

  Comb.  a. 1743.  Savage, Wks. (1775), I. 198.

1873.  Tristram, Moab, v. 71. The wall with its smoothly-sloped facing.

  b.  With clothes of smooth or fine texture.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 39. They were smoothly appareled, soft lodged, daintely feasted.

  3.  In a bland, mild or plausible manner; blandly, suavely.

1523.  Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 504. Some lokyd full smothely, and had a fals quarter.

1592.  Arden of Feversham, III. v. Thou hast … spoke as smoothly as an orator.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., 8. Heer he smoothly seeks to wipe off all the envy of his evill Government upon his Substitutes.

1653.  H. More, Conject. Cabbal., 226. The Serpent … looking so smoothly and innocently on’t,… and so deceiving them.

1825.  Scott, Talism., vi. Despardieux! This is smoothly said to soothe a sick man.

1845.  G. P. R. James, Arrah Neil, iv. Did he speak smoothly and civilly?

  4.  Without impediment, obstruction or complication; without any trouble or difficulty arising. (Common in 19th cent.)

1668.  Charles II., in Cartwright, Madame (1894), 260. Things should go on smouthly.

1777.  Watson, Philip II. (1839), 59. It could not reasonably be expected that the government would proceed smoothly.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, an. 1766 (Oxf. ed.), I. 336. Goldsmith … mentions Luke as a person well known, and superficial readers have passed it over quite smoothly.

1856.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., xlii. V. 135. The ceremony passed smoothly without demur or scruple.

1881.  Lady Herbert, Edith, 6. For the first few months all went on smoothly.