sweetly

Everyday

1. In a kind, gentle and pleasant way. tree →
2. With a nice, sweet sound or smell. tree →
3. Smoothly and well, as in a ball sweetly struck. tree →
4. (ironic) Pretending to be nice when you are not: «she smiled sweetly and said no». tree →

In the lessons

In stories «sweetly» describes a gentle smile, a sweet voice or song, or flowers that smell sweetly. Sometimes it is sly: a character «smiles sweetly» while planning a trick. In sport talk a ball hit «sweetly» is hit perfectly. Phrases: «smiled sweetly», «sang sweetly», «sweetly scented».

Examples

• The baby smiled sweetly at her grandmother. tree →
• The birds sang sweetly in the morning. tree →
• The roses smelt sweetly in the garden. tree →
• He struck the ball sweetly into the net. tree →
• «No, thank you,» she said sweetly, but she was cross. tree →
• The little boy asked sweetly for another biscuit. tree →
• The little mermaid sang more sweetly than them all. tree →

Note

From «sweet» + «-ly». Strictly, «smell sweet» (adjective) is more usual than «smell sweetly». Watch for irony: a «sweetly» spoken line can hide anger or cunning.

In Jewish tradition

In stories «sweetly» describes a gentle smile, a sweet voice or song, or flowers that smell sweetly. Sometimes it is sly: a character «smiles sweetly» while planning a trick. In sport talk a ball hit «sweetly» is hit perfectly. Phrases: «smiled sweetly», «sang sweetly», «sweetly scented».

Examples

• The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree. (Writings JOB.24.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

From «sweet» + «-ly». Strictly, «smell sweet» (adjective) is more usual than «smell sweetly». Watch for irony: a «sweetly» spoken line can hide anger or cunning.