sleghtly

adv.

WA slyghtly

(Modern English )

Etymology

Formed within English on sleʒt (n.); cp. also sleʒe (adj.) and sleʒly (adv.).

PGmc Ancestor

*slōg-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

cp. slægð (n.) ‘slyness, cunning’
(ONP cp. slǿgð (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

cp. slēan (v.) 'to strike, beat, stamp, coin (money), forge (weapons)'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

C1c

Attestation

MED has a handful of citations, beginning in the 15c., all of which are N or E. Attestations of sleʒt (n.), occur earlier and are more widespread.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 2057, 2870

This adv. occurs only in the D MS of WA; A has sliʒly (see sleʒly (adv.)) at 2870 and at 2057 reads 'seʒes sidlings doun' for 'sweyd sleghtly downe' in D.

Bibliography

MED sleightlī (adv.) , OED sleightly (adv.) , HTOED , Bj. 126