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Antonyms for blithely


Grammar : Adv
Spell : blahyth, blahyth
Phonetic Transcription : blaɪð, blaɪθ



Definition of blithely

Origin :
  • Old English bliþe "joyous, kind, cheerful, pleasant," from Proto-Germanic *blithiz "gentle, kind" (cf. Old Saxon bliði "bright, happy," Middle Dutch blide, Dutch blijde, Old Norse bliðr "mild, gentle," Old High German blidi "gay, friendly," Gothic bleiþs "kind, friendly, merciful").
  • Rare since 16c. No cognates outside Germanic. "The earlier application was to the outward expression of kindly feeling, sympathy, affection to others, as in Gothic and ON.; but in OE. the word had come more usually to be applied to the external manifestation of one's own pleased or happy frame of mind, and hence even to the state itself." [OED]
  • As in cheerfully : adv cheerily
  • As in gaily : adv happily, brightly
  • As in gladly : adv happily
  • As in happily : adv with joy, pleasure
Example sentences :
  • "That will I," said Alleyne, blithely, and bent to the task.
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • And yet if Justus Miles had been able to look ahead he might not have talked so blithely.
  • Extract from : « The Heads of Apex » by Francis Flagg
  • "Between ourselves, it isn't worth a damn," the other blithely assured him.
  • Extract from : « The Market-Place » by Harold Frederic
  • “This is life,” Brand said, blithely, as he leaped from his steaming horse.
  • Extract from : « The Traitors » by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
  • Vertogor rejoiced greatly and blithely recommenced his work.
  • Extract from : « Russian Fairy Tales » by W. R. S. Ralston
  • "'Where there's a will there's a way,'" quoted Tom Reade blithely.
  • Extract from : « The Grammar School Boys of Gridley » by H. Irving Hancock
  • "You speak of the only girl in the world," said Eustace blithely.
  • Extract from : « The Girl on the Boat » by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
  • "Everything's all right, mum," he blithely saluted Mrs. Cranston.
  • Extract from : « Under Fire » by Charles King
  • O, cruel Tom, let birdies be, And blithely sing from bush and tree.
  • Extract from : « Aunt Kitty's Stories » by Various
  • Again she looked to Halfman for support, and again Halfman yielded it blithely.
  • Extract from : « The Lady of Loyalty House » by Justin Huntly McCarthy

Synonyms for blithely

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019