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Vinony

cleverly

adverb

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L187628 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈklɛvəli/ / /ˈklɛvɚli/

adv

Etymology: Etymology tree English clever Middle English -ly English -ly English cleverly From clever + -ly.

  1. Wittily; in a tricky manner.

    “He joked cleverly with each guest.”

  2. Intelligently directed to a purpose.

    “Cleverly, he found ways of ingratiating himself with all the important guests.”

    “The double world champion quickly closed on to the rear of the Williams, but Maldonado drove cleverly to ensure he was always far enough ahead at the start of the pit straight to ensure Alonso could not pass him.”

  3. Completely, fully.

    ““I ain't a-goin' ter let leetle Mose be kep' up hyar till midnight a-waitin' for you-uns ter milk the cow. It's cleverly dark now.””

name

Etymology: Perhaps a variant of Cleveley, through an irregular development, or a possibly a habitational surname from a lost or unidentified place in Hampshire, from Old English clǣfre (“clover”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”) and thus equivalent to clover + -ley (“lea”).

  1. A surname from Old English.