[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/slyly/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / slyly

# slyly

adverb (slyly; also slily, rare)

«slyly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In a clever, secret way, often to trick someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#m1)
2. In a playful, knowing way, as if sharing a secret joke: she smiled slyly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#m2)

### In the lessons

A describing word in stories that tells the reader a character is cunning or teasing. Foxes and weasels act slyly in animal stories; in The Wind in the Willows the weasels and stoats slyly take over Toad Hall. In the Just So Stories animals often trick each other slyly. It can be friendly («winked slyly») or not («slyly stole»).

### Examples

- The fox looked slyly at the hens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x1)
- She slyly took the last biscuit when no one was looking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x2)
- He grinned slyly, knowing the answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x3)
- The weasels slyly crept into Toad Hall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x4)
- Grandpa slyly slipped me a coin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x5)
- The cat slyly watched the bird from under the bush. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x6)
- Some one must have slipped it slyly into my pocket for a joke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/#x7)

### Note

Adverb from «sly» (slyer/slier, slyest/sliest). Spelling: «slyly» is now usual. Noun: «slyness». «On the sly» means secretly.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «slyly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slyly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«slyly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slyly.html) on Mova free.