Idly, 1) without employment, lazily: Shr. I, 1, 155. H6A I, 1, 142. I, 2, 13. Troil. III, 3, 233. Cor. II, 2, 80.
2) unprofitably, vainly, frivolously: “redeem in gentle numbers time so i. spent,” Sonn. 100, 6. “mocking the air with colours i. spread,” John V, 1, 72. “so i. to profane the precious time,” H4B II, 4, 391.
3) unreasonably, foolishly, thoughtlessly: “how i. do they talk!” Err. IV, 4, 132. “I talk but i., and you laugh at me,” R2 III, 3, 171. H4B II, 2, 32. “she is so i. kinged, her sceptre so fantastically borne,” H5 II, 4, 26.
4) carelessly, regardlessly, slightly, at random, by the way: “but this from rumour's tongue I i. heard: if true or false I know not,” John IV, 2, 124 (Germ. obenhin). “the eyes of men are i. bent on him that enters next,” R2 V, 2, 25. “King Pharamond, i. supposed the founder of this law,” H5 I, 2, 59. “his guilt should be but i. posted over,” H6B III, 1, 255. “a thing slipped i. from me,” Tim. I, 1, 20.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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