In a clean manner; neatly, efficiently, or without mess or contamination. Can also mean in a morally pure or honest way.
From Old English 'clænlice', derived from 'clæne' (clean) plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The word has maintained its basic meaning of 'in a clean manner' since Old English times.
There's a delightful ambiguity in this word - when someone cuts 'cleanly' through something, we mean both that the cut was precise (no ragged edges) and that no mess was made. It's one of those words where physical and metaphorical cleanliness perfectly align!
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