smilingly

comparative more smilingly · superlative most smilingly

1. In a smiling manner; with a smile.

   1753, Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison in a Series of Letters, London: William Miller, 1811, Volume II, Letter 28, p. 279, He looked smilingly serious.

   5 more examples

   But me thinks at these words I heare some smilingly say, I would be loath to lacke liuing of my own till the Prince gaue me a maner of new Elme for my riming […]

   1589, George Puttenham, chapter 8, in The Arte of English Poesie

   But his flaw’d heart, Alack, too weak the conflict to support! ’Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]

   Lo! how they murmur, laugh, and smile, and weep: Some with upholden hand and mouth severe; Some with their faces muffled to the ear Between their arms; some, clear in youthful bloom, Go glad and smilingly athwart the gloom; Some looking back, and some with upward gaze; Yes, thousands in a thousand different ways Flit onward […]

   1816, John Keats, Sleep and Poetry

   So Amelia gave Dobbin her little hand as she got out of the carriage, and rebuked him smilingly for not having taken any notice of her all night.

   1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 27, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC

   […] Thorndyke, having unstrapped the hamper with as much care as if it contained a collection of priceless porcelain, bore it tenderly up to his bedroom; whence he appeared, after a considerable interval, smilingly apologetic for the delay.

   1909, R. Austin Freeman, “The Man with the Nailed Shoes”, in John Thorndyke’s Cases