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directly
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English Dictionary: directly by the DICT Development Group
2 results for directly
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
directly
adv
  1. without deviation; "the path leads directly to the lake"; "went direct to the office"
    Synonym(s): directly, 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 or hesitation; with no time intervening; "he answered immediately"; "found an answer straightaway"; "an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith"; "Come here now!"
    Synonym(s): immediately, instantly, straightaway, straight off, directly, now, right away, at once, forthwith, like a shot
  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"
    Synonym(s): directly, flat, straight
    Antonym(s): indirectly
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Directly \Di*rect"ly\, adv.
      1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. [bd]To
            run directly on.[b8] --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.
            [bd]Will she go now to bed?' [?]Directly.'[b8] --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, [bd]I will do it directly,[b8] means, [bd]I
                  will go straightway about it.[b8] [bd]I will do it
                  immediately,[b8] means, [bd]I will do it as the very
                  next thing.[b8] [bd]I will do it instantly,[b8] 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.
No guarantee of accuracy or completeness!
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