Word Study
cleanly
CIDE DICTIONARY
cleanly, a. [From Clean.].
- Habitually clean; pure; innocent. Glanvill. [1913 Webster]"Some plain but cleanly country maid." [1913 Webster]"Displays her cleanly platter on the board." [1913 Webster]
- Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc. Prior. [1913 Webster]
- Adroit; skillful; dexterous; artful. [1913 Webster]"Through his fine handling and his cleanly play." [1913 Webster]
cleanly, adv.
- In a clean manner; neatly. [1913 Webster]"He was very cleanly dressed." [1913 Webster]
- Innocently; without stain. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Adroitly; dexterously. Middleton. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cleanly, adv.
1 in a clean way.
2 efficiently; without difficulty.
1 in a clean way.
2 efficiently; without difficulty.
cleanly, adj. (cleanlier, cleanliest) habitually clean; with clean habits.
Derivative
cleanlily adv. cleanliness n.
Etymology
OE cl{aelig}nlic: see CLEAN, -LY(1)
ROGET THESAURUS
cleanly
Cleanness
N cleanness, cleanliness, purity, cleaning, purification, defecation, purgation, lustration, detersion, abstersion, epuration, mundation, ablution, lavation, colature, disinfection, drainage, sewerage, lavatory, laundry, washhouse, washerwoman, laundress, dhobi, laundryman, washerman, scavenger, dustman, sweep, white wings brush, broom, besom, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter, blotter, napkin, cloth, maukin, malkin, handkerchief, towel, sudary, doyley, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab, cover, drugget, wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative, purifier, disinfectant, aperient, benzene, benzine benzol, benolin, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent, laxative, clean, cleanly, pure, immaculate, spotless, stainless, taintless, trig, without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected, sweet, sweet as a nut, neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens, cleaned, kempt, abstergent, cathartic, cleansing, purifying, neatly, clean as a whistle.For further exploring for "cleanly" in Webster Dictionary Online