3 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) 2.0 [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 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!" [syn: {immediately}, {instantly},
{straightaway}, {straight off}, {now}, {right away}, {at
once}, {forthwith}, {in real time}, {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" [syn: {flat}, {straight}]
[ant: {indirectly}]
From eng-fra [engfra]:
directly
[diritliː]
debout, directement, sans détour
directement