reply lightly

[hhtt21]

"Are we really?” he replied lightly. “I didn’t know. Who does one hear that from, if I may ask?"

Would you please explain which of the definitions in the link fit for lightly used in the sentence?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightly

https://books.google.com.tr/books?i...oes one hear that from, if I may ask?&f=false

Thank you.

 

[hhtt21]

Definitions a, b and d all work.

Yes, they all might work but they are quite different from each other so only one must fit and I cannot determine which one it is.

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't see it on the link. Which page is it on?

 

[hhtt21]

It seems google books is hiding that part.

https://books.google.com.tr/books?i...="Are we really?” he replied lightly"&f=false

https://books.google.com.tr/books?i...?" he replied lightly" "most wanted""&f=false

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems to me that lightly means something like casually or nonchalantly. He doesn't want to give the impression that the news is something grave, serious, or to be worried about.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, they all might work but they are quite different from each other so only one must fit....

That is not correct. Definitions a, b, and d are all possible in the quoted extract. More context might tell us which most closely fits what the author had in mind, but it's also possible it wouldn't help at all; the author may have failed to establish the speaker's mood well enough for us to gauge which of the definitions is the closest match.

 

[Tdol]

It could be nonchalance or a sort of gallows humour as it's his bank that is in trouble. I don't see why only one possible definition has to apply- it could be both or a combination. The writer could have chosen the word because it has more than one possible meaning. This is literary writing, not a legal contract.

 

[hhtt21]

Definitions a, b and d all work.

Is the work you used above 3 in the link?

http://www.wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=work

Thank you.

 

[andrewg927]

Is the work you used above 3 in the link?

http://www.wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=work

Thank you.

If you mean definition 3 under "verb", then yes.

 

[hhtt21]

Definitions a, b and d all work.

Is this as casual as the original: "Definitions a, b and d all acts?

​Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

Is this as casual as the original: "Definitions a, b and d all acts?

No. Something can act on something else, or an actor can act. Neither verb means the same as "to work" in the sense of verb definition #3 in your link.

 

[hhtt21]

No. Something can act on something else, or an actor can act. Neither verb means the same as "to work" in the sense of verb definition #3 in your link.

What about "to function" which is not included in the link?

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

What about "to function" which is not included in the link?

In this case, to work is similar to "to function correctly", but not similar enough for the latter to be able to substitute for the former.

 

[andrewg927]

What about "to function" which is not included in the link?

Thank you.

"Definitions a, b and d all function" - wrong.

Look at def #8 under "verb"
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/function?s=t

"Function" equals "work" in the sense that it is not broken. The example "The computer isn't functioning now" means the computer is broken.