Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a busy manner.
  • Carefully; with care.
  • With an air of hurry or importance; with too much curiosity; importunately; officiously.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a busy manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a busy manner, actively.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a busy manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English busily, busiliche, bisiliche, equivalent to busy +‎ -ly.

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Examples

  • Suppose that during a visit someone notices a man behind a curtain busily working controls.

    A New Weapon Against Freedom and ID: Volksverhetzung 2007

  • Suppose that during a visit someone notices a man behind a curtain busily working controls.

    A New Weapon Against Freedom and ID: Volksverhetzung 2007

  • Cars were stolen at an alarming rate, sometimes several a day and in busily populated areas.

    LAKE LEVEL 10-24-03 + crimes 2003

  • Miss Gwynne waited until she heard Mr Prothero come down from his wife's room, calling busily for Owen, who was in the wheat-field, and telling him to go and fetch Dr Richards.

    Gladys, the Reaper Anne Beale

  • I'm not sure how much I told her - children at that age tend to be loyal to their backgrounds, however dysfunctional - but I do recall busily beating up dolls in her office.

    Integral Options Cafe 2010

  • State Department of Commerce and Insurance spokesman Chris Garrett said Monday that some staffers worked through the weekend and still were "busily" taking calls.

    The Memphis Daily News 2008

  • State Department of Commerce and Insurance spokesman Chris Garrett said Monday that some of the office staff worked through the weekend and is still "busily" taking calls.

    Kingsport Times News - Daily 5 2008

  • The Roosevelt administration appreciated the efforts of the Hays Office, which was busily purifying Hollywood films according to the Motion Picture Production Code.

    A Renegade History of the United States Thaddeus Russell 2010

  • While the maid helped Freda off with her wraps, Floyd Vanderlip replenished the fire; and by the time the maid had withdrawn to an inner room, his head over the stove, he was busily thawing out his burdened upper lip.

    Jack London Play:The Scorn of Women 2010

  • Paul's letter to the Colossians offers one other bit of advice that should bring us up short in 2012 when we find ourselves busily packing away plans for revenge or plotting ways to get even.

    Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr.: It's Time To Lose Our Luggage Jr. Reverend William E. Flippin 2011

Comments

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  • "'Carmen' is my favorite opera", said Tom busily.

    October 30, 2007

  • From an alleged English plot synopsis in an Italian opera program. I have no idea whether or not it is genuine, but it is pretty funny:

    Act One: Carmen, a cigarmakeress from a tobago factory loves Don Hose of the mounting guard. Carmen takes a flower from her corsets and lances it to Don Jose.... There was a noise inside the tobago factory and revolting cigarmakeresses bust onto the stage. Carmen is arrested and Don Hose is ordered to mounting guard on her but she subduces him and lets her escape.

    Act Two: The tavern. Carmen sings .... Enter two smugglers ("Ho, we have a mind in business"). Enter Escamillo, a Balls fighter. Carmen refuses to penetrate because Don Jose has liberated her from prison. He just now arrives. (aRia: "Slop here who comes"). But here are the bugles singing his retreat. Called by Carmen's shrieks the two smugglers interfere with her. Jose is bound to dessert.

    October 30, 2007