Timidly

adv. [f. TIMID a. + -LY².] In a timid manner; shrinkingly, apprehensively.

1656.  Charleton, Epicurus’s Morals, xx. 109–10. Those, who behave themselves, in any Difficulty or Dangerous Enterprise, as especially in War (from which the Vulgar seem to have transferred the word to all Generous actions) not timidly and unmanly, but Couragiously and valiantly, are generally said to behave themselves Honestly and Becomingly.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm. (1683), II. xxxiv. 493. S. Hierome and other Latin ancient writers should so avoid, or timidly admit the word hypostasis; as fearing that by use thereof they should seem to acknowledge three essences.

1757.  W. Burke, Acct. Eur. Settlements Amer., VII. i. 131. Some of them timidly or ignorantly drawing our territories into a very inconvenient narrowness.

1767.  S. Paterson, Another Trav., I. 375. To the timidly-superstitious … they would seem a company of necromancers.

1775.  Pennsylvania Packet, 10 April, 2/1. His sense, or rather his cunning, directed him when to yield properly, not timidly, to the fiercest winds, that could blow.

1783.  Precipitate Choice, I. Lett. xi. 37. She timidly raised her eyes to his face, instantly her’s was suffused with blushes.

1843.  Bethune, Sc. Fireside Stor., 137. The lady … glanced timidly at me to ascertain if I observed her.

1885.  L’pool Daily Post, 11 April, 4/9. One traveller timidly attempts the fraudulent experiment.