stiffly

What it means

1. With stiffness; lacking a smooth flow of movement, or lacking movement altogether.

   When Handy had gone, Bert Barricue sagged in, unwashed, unshaven. He sat down stiffly.

   1949, Dorothy M. Johnson, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 106

   1 more example

   It’s recited in schools across the US every day by students standing stiffly with their hands over their hearts.

   2019 February 19, Doug Criss, “Here’s why students don’t have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance”, in CNN, archived from the original on 14 Jul 2020

2. In a stiff manner.

   'Very well, Clara,' she said stiffly, 'but I shall also speak to your father.'

   1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 86

   1 more example

   'Twas Mr. Glennie who first moved to seek me; for when the second day came that I was not at school, he thought that I was ill, and went to my aunt's to ask how I did, as was his wont when any ailed. But Aunt Jane answered him stiffly that she could not say how I did.

   [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC

In a sentence

When Handy had gone, Bert Barricue sagged in, unwashed, unshaven. He sat down stiffly.

1949, Dorothy M. Johnson, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 106

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishstifly
2. Englishstiffly

From Middle English stifly, styfly; equivalent to stiff + -ly.