archly

[ ahrch-lee ]

/ ˈɑrtʃ li /

|

adverb

in an arch or roguish manner.

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A Smack Of Jellyfish And Other Strange Animal Groups What do hunting and sexual desires have in common? We could point to several things, but from a linguistic point of view, we’re referring to the archaic word venery, which means both hunting (from the Latin venor) and sexual desire (from Latin veneria, referring to Venus). Strangely, terms of venery is a collective noun that means a group of animals. And, many of these animal …

Nearby words

archives, archivist, archivolt, archliberal, archlute, archly, archness, archon, archons, archoplasm, archosaur

Origin of archly

First recorded in 1655–65; arch² + -ly

Related formsun·arch·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for archly

"I—I thought all applications had to be made to—your commanding officer," she says at last, falteringly, yet archly.
Starlight Ranch|Charles King
"You have here a greater flatterer than either his excellency or myself," said Teresa, archly.
The Sicilian Bandit|Alexandre Dumas, pere
"And I should like to ask—if I could have permission," began Frank, archly.
The Drummer Boy|John Trowbridge
"He means that you are always looking at him, my dear," says her mother, archly.
The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.|W. M. Thackeray

"Friend Peters probably alludes to his experience in the great republic of Guilford," said Jones, archly.
The Rangers|D. P. Thompson