Nippily

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈnɪpəli/

Definitions

1. Exhibiting a sharp, brisk character, particularly regarding temperature
2. Indicating a distinctly cool or brisk sensation, often perceived as invigorating and biting
3. Displaying a quick, sharp quality often associated with chilly air

Etymology: "Nippily" is an adverb built from the adjective "nippy," which means sharply cold or biting, and the suffix "-ly" that turns adjectives into adverbs. The root "nip" carries the sense of a quick, sharp pinch or bite, and that idea of sudden, stinging sensation is what "nippy" inherited when it came to describe weather. A cold wind that bites is "nippy," and something done in that manner is done "nippily." The word is a straightforward formation rather than a loan or a coinage with a dramatic backstory. Its meaning follows the physical sense of "nip" closely: a sensation that is brief and sharp rather than prolonged, which is why the word suits a cold that seems to snap at the skin rather than settle over it.

Synonyms: sharply, briskly, keenly

Antonyms: gently, softly, smoothly