— slyly, slily , adv. — slyness , n.
/sluy/ , adj., slyer or slier, slyest or sliest , n.
adj.
1. cunning or wily: sly as a fox.
2. stealthy, insidious, or secret.
3. playfully artful, mischievous, or roguish: sly humor.
n.
4. on the sly , secretly; furtively: a tryst on the sly.
[ 1150-1200; ME sly, sley sloegr sly, cunning ]
Syn. 1. artful, subtle, foxy, crafty, shrewd, astute. 2. surreptitious, furtive, underhand, clandestine.
Ant. 1. direct, obvious.