Puckishly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a mischievous manner characterized by playful humor and a sense of whimsy, one might behave with cheeky amusement and a spirited attitude that delights or tempers seriousness
2. Displaying a lighthearted and impish disposition, actions taken can be characterized by a teasing or jesting quality that brings joy and levity
3. Engaging in playful mischief or clever fun, this manner often reflects a spirited inclination toward teasing and a delight in humorous antics

Etymology: Puckish comes from "puck," the mischievous sprite of English folklore, and "-ish," meaning "like" or "having the character of." Shakespeare's Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the most famous example of the type, a goblin who delights in misleading mortals. "Puckishly" adds the adverbial suffix "-ly," which descends from an old Germanic word for "body" or "form," so the phrase came to mean "in the manner of one with a body or form of that kind" before shifting toward a description of how someone acts. The adverb is built in steps. The root of "puck" traces back to Old English, and the "-ly" ending is an ancient Germanic element that Old English reduced to "-līce," later becoming "-ly" in Middle English. The result is a word that describes not a thing but a manner: an action done with the sly, teasing spirit of the sprite himself.

Synonyms: mischievously, playfully, impishly