lightsomely

The last thing one hears of her, she is tripping up stairs to bed, talking lightsomely or warbling; and one meets her in the morning, the very image of bright morn itself, smiling briskly at you, so that one takes her for a promise of cheerfulness through the day.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 103, May, 1866 Various

The sun of autumn shone, lying like a benediction upon the land whose fruits were gathered; among the hips and haws in the hedges the birds, their family cares all over, sang lightsomely, with vacant hearts.

A Sheaf of Corn Mary E. Mann

Mrs. Plummet shed real tears when I told her my good news at six o'clock that night; and more tears a fortnight later when I moved out of my little hall bedroom, and my feather-weight trunk, lightsomely balanced on the shoulders of one man, was conveyed to the express-wagon and thence to new lodgings in Irving Place.

The Fifth Wheel A Novel Olive Higgins Prouty 1928

Having made sure that the bed on which it rested was firm and moderately dry, he covered the box with a strewing of last year's leaves, cunningly trailed a bramble or two over it, and pursued his way more lightsomely, albeit still under some oppression: for the house stood formidably high, and he feared all converse with women.

Hocken and Hunken Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

In what vernacular tongue, for instance, does Mr. Hunt find a lady's waist called _clipsome_ (p. 10) -- or the shout of a mob "enormous" (p. 9) -- or a fit, _lightsome_; -- or that a hero's nose is "_lightsomely_ brought down from a forehead of clear-spirited thought" (p. 46) -- or that his back "drops" _lightsomely in_ (p. 20).

Famous Reviews R. Brimley Johnson 1899

As there was no abatement of the blows of the boat against the embankment, no reply nor explanation, a shot from the gun of one of the levee-watch came skipping lightsomely over the water as

The Crucial Moment 1911 Mary Noailles Murfree 1886

Hawthorne said: "Happiness may walk soberly in dark attire as well as dance lightsomely in a gala-dress."

Customs and Fashions in Old New England Alice Morse Earle 1881

'Implying that I dislike _you_,' said Sidwell, lightsomely.

Born in Exile George Gissing 1880

'Guessed the work was going well; you sing so lightsomely to-day, Grete!

Farina George Meredith 1868

'Guessed the work was going well; you sing so lightsomely to-day, Grete!

Complete Short Works of George Meredith George Meredith 1868