Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- In a sportive or playful manner.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adverb In a
sportive way
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in a merry sportive manner
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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‘I only know this much,’ said Ferdinand, ‘that he has given the Department with which I have the honour to be associated;’ this sparkling young Barnacle threw off the phrase sportively, as who should say, We know all about these forms of speech, but we must keep it up, we must keep the game alive; ‘no end of trouble, and has put us into innumerable fixes.’
Little Dorrit 2007
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Department with which I have the honour to be associated; 'this sparkling young Barnacle threw off the phrase sportively, as who should say, We know all about these forms of speech, but we must keep it up, we must keep the game alive;' no end of trouble, and has put us into innumerable fixes. '
Little Dorrit Charles Dickens 1841
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“Clairville is anxious,” said his cousin, sportively, “to bid you beware, Matilda, of a little lurking god, who generally lies in ambush amidst the deep shades of sequestered woods to entrap poor maidens — though, in truth, if I am to judge by your looks, he has already been somewhat busy.”
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Likewise, several fighting men, and a patriotic group of burglars sportively armed with life-preservers, proceeded (in barouches and very drunk) to the scene of action at their own expense; these children of nature having conceived a warm attachment to our honourable friend, and intending, in their artless manner, to testify it by knocking the voters in the opposite interest on the head.
Reprinted Pieces 2007
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And the moll in red's eyebrows perfectly epitomize my dictionary's definition of "arch": cunning or sly; esp., sportively mischievous; roguish.
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He endeavoured to speak sportively as they went on.
A Pair of Blue Eyes 2006
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The enterprising manager replies by sportively striking Mrs. Crump on the side a blow which causes a great giggle from the lady insulted, and a most good-humoured threat to box
Mens Wives 2006
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The slope that I so laboriously clamber up the wind skips sportively down.
A Changed Man 2006
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You have many a time sportively purloined it: it fitted your fore-finger.
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All these quick and lively sallies were said sportively, quite in jest, and with a smile, which showed that he meant only wit.
madmouth commented on the word sportively
"Thus the whale-line folds the whole boat in its complicated coils, twisting and writhing around it in almost every direction. All the oarsmen are involved in its perilous contortions; so that to the timid eye of the landsman, they seem as Indian jugglers, with the deadliest snakes sportively festooning their limbs."
Moby-Dick ch. 60
June 15, 2009