adv. Also 6 snekingly, 7 sneekingly. [f. prec.]
1. In a sneaking manner; not openly or boldly.
1598. Florio, Gatto gatto, groping, creeping,… sneakingly as a cat.
1599. R. Linche, Anc. Fiction, M iij. The Serpent … snekingly conueyeth her selfe away.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ch. Porch, xxi. Doe all things like a man, not sneakingly.
1678. Otway, Friendship in F., IV. i. How sneakingly will he look when he shall find his mistake.
1726. Brice’s Weekly Jrnl., 17 June, 1. I shall not … sneakingly hang my Head, under the smartest Strokes … of Adversity.
1778. Mrs. Scott, in Doran, Lady of last Cent. (1873), x. 243. if she ever does ill, she will do it sneakingly.
1835. Tait’s Mag., II. 377. Certain senators, who, having boldly given the lie, give sneakingly the hand of reconciliation.
1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, I. 80. We hurriedly and sneakingly enter the drawing-room.
† 2. Meanly; niggardly. Obs.
1695. De la Pryme, Diary (Surtees), 74. He behaved himself the sneakinglyest to him that can be imagined.
3. Without open declaration; unavowedly.
1730. [A. Hill], Progr. Wit, 7. Unborn to cherish, sneakingly approves, And wants the Soul to spread the Worth, he loves.
1879. Browning, Martin Relph, 141. Suppose I had sneakingly loved her myself, My wretched self.
