deftly 復習

　For a player so untested, that figure seemed extraordinary when it was agreed, but it is increasingly coming to look like a bargain. There is still a question of where he fits in a team dominated by the look-at-me self-indulgence of the Brazilian but even in classes dominated by the greatest attention-seeking show‑off, the other kids can still learn. Getting to France, and playing alongside somebody as comparatively selfless as Olivier Giroud, who laid on his second goal with a deftly weighted pass, must seem a tremendous relief. (Skip the rest)

https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/01/kylian-mbappe-bargain-france-argentina-world-cup-michael-owen-psg

　今回取り上げる語は、deftly /déftli/ です。文脈から「巧みに」という意味であると推測しました。以下で意味等を確認しています。
　まず意味を Cambridge Dictionary でみると、“in a skilful, clever, or quick way” とあり、OED には “In a way that is neatly skilful and quick in movement” と定義されていました。
　次に語源を ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY をみると、“mid-15c., from deft + -ly (2)” とあり、deft には “Old English gedæfte "mild, gentle," differentiated in Middle English into daft (q.v.) and this word, via sense of "apt, skillful, adept." Cognate with Gothic gadaban "to be fit," Old Norse dafna "to grow strong," Dutch deftig "important, relevant”.” とありました。
　以上のことから、deftly は「巧みに、手際良く」という意味を持つことがわかりました。(OkaUchi)