slyly

Variant of sly

sly definition

sly (slī)

adjective slier sli′er or slyer sly′er, sliest sli′·est or slyest sly′·est

  1. Dialectal skillful or clever
  2. skillful at trickery or deceit; crafty; wily
  3. showing a secretive, crafty, or wily nature; cunningly underhanded
  4. mischievous in a playful way; roguish

Etymology: ME sley < ON slœgr, clever, cunning, lit., able to strike < base of slā & OE slean, to strike: see slay

Related Forms:

sly Idioms

on the sly

secretly; stealthily

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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