The DICT Development Group

  Closely \Close"ly\, adv.
     1. In a close manner.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Secretly; privately. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              That nought she did but wayle, and often steepe
              Her dainty couch with tears which
              closely she did weepe.                --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]

  closely
      adv 1: in a close relation or position in time or space; "the
             onsets were closely timed"; "houses set closely
             together"; "was closely involved in monitoring daily
             progress"
      2: in an attentive manner; "he remained close on his guard"
         [syn: close, closely, tight]
      3: in a close manner; "the two phenomena are intimately
         connected"; "the person most nearly concerned" [syn:
         closely, intimately, nearly]

  33 Moby Thesaurus words for "closely":
     all but, almost, as good as, barely, carefully, close, compactly,
     densely, firmly, hardly, heavily, heedfully, intently, just about,
     meticulously, mindfully, minutely, narrowly, near, nearly, nigh,
     nighhand, not quite, only just, pretty near, punctiliously,
     scrupulously, sharply, solidly, thick, thickly, thoughtfully,
     well-nigh