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Antonyms for cleverly
| Grammar : Adv |
| Spell : klev-er |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈklɛv ər |
Definition of cleverly
Origin :- 1580s, "handy, dexterous," apparently from East Anglian dialectal cliver "expert at seizing," perhaps from East Frisian klüfer "skillful," or Norwegian dialectic klover "ready, skillful," and perhaps influenced by Old English clifer "claw, hand" (early usages seem to refer to dexterity). Or perhaps akin to Old Norse kleyfr "easy to split" and from a root related to cleave "to split." Extension to intellect is first recorded 1704.
- This is a low word, scarcely ever used but in burlesque or conversation; and applied to any thing a man likes, without a settled meaning. [Johnson, 1755]
- The meaning has narrowed since, but clever also often in old use and dialect meant "well-shaped, attractive-looking" and in 19c. American English sometimes "good-natured, agreeable." Related: Cleverly; cleverness.
- adv in a clever manner
- adv in a dexterous manner
- She had a wicked delight in the defeat of his strategy which she could cleverly conceal.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- He had been cleverly exploited, but he could not see that any great harm had been done.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- He was cleverly caught, though, before he could make any use of what he had stolen.
- Extract from : « A Woman Intervenes » by Robert Barr
- At these words, which she had so cleverly provoked, Felicite released her husband's arms.
- Extract from : « The Fortune of the Rougons » by Emile Zola
- She had disguised herself so cleverly that it was difficult to recognise her.
- Extract from : « An Orkney Maid » by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
- He doesn't seem to have noticed at all how cleverly you have used your performers.
- Extract from : « Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) » by Frank Wedekind
- "Well, you have done it cleverly, I must say," resumed Dunn.
- Extract from : « Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2) » by Charles James Lever
- "Cleverly done, by Jove," cried Talbot, in an ecstacy of admiration.
- Extract from : « The O'Donoghue » by Charles James Lever
- Well, he could bring down an ox with his fist, at a word from the boss, just as cleverly.
- Extract from : « Victory » by Joseph Conrad
- Now he had been cleverly outwitted by an eighteen-year-old girl.
- Extract from : « Jolly Sally Pendleton » by Laura Jean Libbey
Synonyms for cleverly
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019