deftly — in a skillful and quick way; with cleverness and ease
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: in a skillful and quick way; with cleverness and ease
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɛftli/
Example Sentences
- She deftly caught the falling vase before it hit the floor, like a ninja.
- My cat deftly avoided the bath by jumping onto the fridge in half a second.
- The chef deftly flipped the pancake without spilling a drop of batter.
deftly
ADVERB[/ˈdɛftli/]
in a skillful and quick way; with cleverness and ease
The blacksmith deftly hammers the glowing blade into a perfect curve.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'gedæfte' meaning mild or gentle, which surprisingly shares the same root as 'daft' (foolish); the meaning shifted over time to 'skillful/handy'.
Breakdown
deft (skillful) + -ly (adverb-forming suffix)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“She deftly caught the falling vase before it hit the floor, like a ninja.”
“My cat deftly avoided the bath by jumping onto the fridge in half a second.”
“The chef deftly flipped the pancake without spilling a drop of batter.”
“He deftly changed the subject when his boss asked about the missing budget.”
📚Related Words
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