atiptoe

On tiptoe; on the tips of one's toes in order to move quietly or to stand taller.

[T]he gate of going of Fortune ſeems quick and faſt, her ſpirit great, and courage proud, her hopes high and haughty: ſhe over-goeth Vertue, and approacheth neer at hand already; not mounting and lifting up her ſelfe now with her light and flight wings, not ſtanding a tiptoe upon a round ball or boule commeth ſhe wavering and doubtful; and then goeth her way afterwards in diſcontentment and diſpleasure: […]

We content not our ſelves with ſtanding a tiptoe for to appear greater than others; we ſtrive ſtill either to make them fall, or for to abaſe them for to appear greater by their abaſement.

Quietly, and little by little.

Don't you ſee that Moor who comes a tiptoe creeping and ſtealing along with his finger in his mouth behind Meliſandra? Hear what a ſmack he gives on her ſweet lips, and ſee how ſhe ſpits and wipes her mouth with her white ſmock-ſleeve!

But silence fell upon her atiptoe mid her thoughts, straining for the great truth of moral conduct in a world of shams and convention.

Without retreating from adversity, confrontation, or danger; standing tall; bravely, proudly, unyieldingly.

This day is call'd the Feaſt of Criſpian: / He that out-liues this day, and comes ſafe home, / Will ſtand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, / And rowſe him at the Name of Criſpian.

[T]he Spaniard ſtood as high a tiptoe as ever, and notwithſtanding the vaſt expence of treaſure and blood he had been at for ſo many years, and that matters began to exaſperate more and more, which were like to prolong the Wars in infinitum, he would abate nothing in point on Eccleſiaſtick Government: […]

In a state of anticipation; keenly awaiting.

Consider therefore if, on this Wednesday morning, there is an affluence of Patriotism; if Paris stands a-tiptoe, and all Deputies are at their post! […] Meanwhile expectant Patriotism and Paris standing a-tiptoe, have need of patience.

[A]ll Europe now stands atiptoe, anxiously watching for the what next.

On tiptoe; moving or standing on the tips of one's toes.

[S]he swept back with her hand the hem of her dress, and showed one little foot atiptoe behind the heel of the other.

In a state of anticipation; keenly awaiting.

O could I meete andrea, now my blouds a tiptoe. / This hand and ſword ſhould melt him: / Valliant Don Pedro.

The Counteſs of Light-airs has taken an unaccountable fancy to ſome coxcomb as worthleſs as herſelf. This is ſpread about, and the curioſity of all the coquettes is a tiptoe, to know whether a woman, who paſſes for a knowing one, is in the right to have made ſuch a choice.