squeamishly

2 definitions found

squeamishly - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Squeamish \Squeam"ish\ (skw[=e]m"[i^]sh), a. [OE. squaimous,
     sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a
     swimming in the head; cf. Icel. sveimr a bustle, a stir,
     Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one,
     Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. sw[imac]ma. The word has been
     perhaps confused with qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.]
     Having a stomach that is easily turned or nauseated; hence,
     nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to
     be offended at trifling improprieties.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish
           That takes a basting for a blemish.      --Hudibras.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
           The men of squeamish taste to entertain. --Southern.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven. --M.
                                                    Arnold.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See
          Fastidious.
          [1913 Webster] -- Squeam"ish*ly, adv. --
          Squeam"ish*ness, n.
          [1913 Webster]

squeamishly - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  squeamishly
      adv 1: in a squeamish manner; "`I would rather not touch,' he
             said squeamishly"