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more about directly
directly |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Directly \Di*rect"ly\, adv 1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. ``To run directly on.'' --Shak. Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant. --Shak. 2. In a straightforward way without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct, means 3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms. No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to condemn prayer. --Hooker. 4. Exactly; just Stand you directly in Antonius' way --Shak. 5. Straightforwardly; honestly. I have dealt most directly in thy affair. --Shak. 6. Manifestly; openly. [Obs.] Desdemona is directly in love with him --Shak. 7. Straightway; next in order without delay; immediately. ``Will she go now to bed?' ?Directly.''' --Shak. 8. Immediately after as soon as Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed. --Dickens. Note: This use of the word is common in England, especially in colloquial speech, but it can hardly be regarded as a well-sanctioned or desirable use {Directly proportional} (Math.), proportional in the order of the terms; increasing or decreasing together, and with a constant ratio; -- opposed to {inversely proportional}. Syn: Immediately; forthwith; straightway; instantly; instantaneously; soon; promptly; openly; expressly. Usage: -- {Directly}, {Immediately}, {Instantly}, {Instantaneously}. Directly denotes, without any delay or diversion of attention; immediately implies, without any interposition of other occupation; instantly implies, without any intervention of time. Hence ``I will do it directly,'' means ``I will go straightway about it.'' ``I will do it immediately,'' means ``I will do it as the very next thing.'' ``I will do it instantly,'' allows not a particle of delay. Instantaneously, like instantly, marks an interval too small to be appreciable, but commonly relates to physical causes; as the powder touched by fire instantaneously exploded. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: directly adv 1: without deviation; "the path leads directly to the lake"; "went direct to the office" [syn: {straight}, {direct}] 2: without anyone or anything intervening; "these two factors are directly related"; "he was directly responsible"; "measured the physical properties directly" 3: without delay; with no time intervening; "he answered immediately"; "found an answer straightaway"; "an official accused of dishonesty should be supended forthwith"; "Come here now!" [syn: {immediately}, {instantly}, {straightaway}, {now}, {right away}, {at once}, {forthwith}, {in real time}] 4: in a forthright manner; candidly or frankly; "he didn't answer directly"; "told me straight out"; "came out flat for less work and more pay" [syn: {flat}, {straight}] [ant: {indirectly}]
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