† shortlyadj.
Obsolete. rare.
Brief, not long (in time).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [adjective]
shortc888
littleOE
shortlya1050
briefc1400
momentlya1425
small?a1439
momentany1447
momentaneous?a1450
stunta1450
momentaryc1485
momentane1510
hourlya1535
sudden1561
momentaneala1581
span-long1593
momentaneana1599
momental1606
narrow1611
timeless1657
concise1785
succinct1796
ultra-short1962
a1050 Liber Scintill. (1889) lxxx. 214 Se apostol sæde þæt soþlice þæt on andwerdum sceortlic oþþe hwilendlic [L. momentaneum] ys.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter i. 2 His wil is in godis lawe..and þat will is noght ydell na shortly.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. ccxxv When both hoostes were met wtin shortly space such offers of a pease were proferid by the Frenshe kynge, that fynally both prynces agreed vpon a pease.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
shortlyadv.
/ˈʃɔːtli/, U.S. /ˈʃɔrtli/ 1. † b. In short, ‘to speak briefly’. Also more fully, shortly (the sooth) to say, to say shortly, etc.
a. Briefly, concisely, in few words.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adverb]
shortlyc893
brieflya1300
shortc1374
in sumc1384
compendiously1398
in brief1423
roundlya1516
succinctly?1537
brief1557
succinct1593
abbreviately1599
compactly1603
laconically1631
presslya1637
compactedly1649
curtly1654
concisely1686
laconicly1709
straightforwardly1874
scantly1885
c893 tr. Orosius Hist. i. i. §5 Scortlice ic hæbbe nu gesæd ymb þa þrie dælas ealles þises middangeardes.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12788 Ta seȝȝde filippe. Shorrtlike till natanaæl. Cumm nu þe sellf. & loke.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 252 Þeruore ich paci þe ssortlaker.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 99 And schortly to descrive hire al, Sche hath no lith withoute a lak.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8520 For he þat mikel has for to tell þe scortliker he aght to spell.
1472 J. Osbern in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 407 He can telle yow more shortlyer [e] then I shuld wryte.
1581 W. Charke in A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion (1584) iv. E e j Answere shortly.
1624 W. Bedell Copies Certaine Lett. x. 136 It would require a iust volume to shew it, though but shortly.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) i. i. 1 The instances thereof,..shall be only these two, which I shall but shortly touch.
1805 E. H. East Rep. Cases King's Bench 5 254 The Attorney General was heard shortly in reply.
1886 Act 49 Vict. c. 22. §4 (1) (a) An advertisement describing shortly the object for which the land is proposed to be taken.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adverb] > in short
at a (also one) wordOE
at few wordsOE
shortly1303
in short wordsc1380
oncec1384
in short and plainc1386
in sum?a1425
at short wordsa1450
at short1513
briefly?1521
in a word1522
in one word1522
with a word1522
summa1535
to be short1544
in (the) fine1545
in few1550
summarily1567
in a sum1574
in shorta1577
in brief1609
briefa1616
in a little1623
tout court1747
sans phrase1808
in a nutshell1822
in nuce1854
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 6007 And, shortly, ȝow for to telle, Þys lady wulde nat hem selle.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22203 Scortli to sai.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 30 And shortly..I was of hir felaweship a non.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 836 And for to sey shortlych, in Room was noon hym lych.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxxx. 110 And shortely to say, he lost alle that he had.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Eccl. ii. 8 (Shortly) I was greater in more worshipe, then all my predecessours in Ierusalem.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. §14. 175 Shortly, resolve us but this one thing.
c. Abruptly, curtly, sharply.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > [adverb] > curtly
sparingly1576
monosyllabically1816
shortlya1817
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [adverb] > curtly or brusquely
cuttedly1530
snappishly1548
snappingly1567
bluntly1579
brusquely1671
bluffly1794
shortlya1817
curtly1866
offhandishly1926
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. v. 79 ‘I think very differently,’ answered Elizabeth, shortly . View more context for this quotation
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. viii. 202 ‘I won't sell a bit of him,’ answered Tom, shortly.
1872 H. Kingsley Hornby Mills I. 26 I am not the only person who ought to be taken up shortly.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay iii. 47 I wish I hadn't been obliged to send that cad Vincent to the right-about so shortly.
2. † b. quasi-n. odd shortly = odd-come-shortly n.
a. In a short time; not long after the present or the point reached in a narration; soon. †In early use also: With little delay, speedily, quickly: often in comparative or superlative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
the world > time > relative time > different time > [adverb] > imminently or in the near future
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
soonc900
shortlya1050
newenc1175
newlya1225
nunonc1225
newenlyc1275
fast byc1300
tomorrowa1382
brieflyc1460
anonc1475
soonlyc1475
of newa1500
suddenlya1500
by and by1526
soon1545
imminently1548
short1556
erelong1577
eminently1646
bimeby1722
directly1851
a1050 Lamb. Ps. xxxvi. 10 & is nu gyt vel scortlice vel lytel fæc & ne byð se synfulla.
a1100 Gloss. in Haupt's Zeitschrift IX. 527 Maturius, scortlicor.
a1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 38 Þo þe giwes i-somned were hi [hadde] schor [t] liche gret fere.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 519 For-þy schal I neuer schende so schortly at ones.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 519 And shortly turned was al vp so down Bothe habit and eek disposicioun Of hym this woful louere daun Arcite.
1483 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 138 Ze schall be payd be Easter and schorttlyer.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 1. §1 Grete multitude of people can not shortly resort to put theym of at theire landyng.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxxxviii. 344 The shortlyer yt ye do it, the gretter thanke we shall gyue you.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 600 The drawe Bridge could not be shortly drawen vp.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. v. 27 I shall grow iealious of you shortly Launcelet, if you thus get my wife into corners? View more context for this quotation
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 448 A French ship..shortly bound for Alexandria.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 84 [They] only invited her from knowing the consequence she would shortly have a right to.
1836 J. R. Smith's Catal. Bks. Feb. 32 Shortly will be published, in one vol. 8vo..Bibliotheca Cantiana.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 406 Very shortly a treaty is on foot for a matrimonial alliance between the houses of Plantagenet and Hapsburg.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 14 Socrates.., after saying a prayer to the sun, shortly retired.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > different time > [adverb] > at some future time or one day
yeteOE
hereafter1154
hereafterwardc1386
sometimec1386
oncea1393
whiloma1400
rather or latera1450
one of these daysa1470
one day1477
umquhile1489
in timea1500
with time?1531
sooner or later1577
odd shortly1681
some summer's day1697
first or last1700
some of these (‥) days1831
someday1898
down the road (also track)1924
1681 Heraclitus Ridens 26 July 2/2 We'l give him as good as he brings one of these odd shortlies, I warrant him.
3. At a short time after, before, †syne.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [adverb] > shortly (before or after)
shortly1548
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clviij And so ye viscount Rochforth retorned into England, & so did the bishop of Bathe shortly after.
1593 in F. Collins Wills & Admin. Knaresborough Court Rolls (1902) I. 198 Shortlie after my deathe.
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1976) 72 And so returning shortly after to his Excellency [I] related to him the success of my journey.
1752 Scotland's Glory 19 Some hundred of our ministers They shortly syne silenced.
1832 W. Palmer Origines Liturg. I. 29 Shortly before, probably about the end of the fourth century, Jerome..said [etc.].
1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xviii. 162 On a given morning..shortly after noon.
1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana xxviii. 353 Perhaps you will..ask him to meet us here shortly before four o'clock.
4. For a short time. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > [adverb]
short whilec897
littleOE
awhileOE
littlec1175
a litel wanc1200
a while1297
while?a1505
till soona1529
for a moment1593
for a moment1611
short1611
for a flash1625
momentally1646
momentarily1655
for a sudden1688
shortly1809
momently1827
1809 T. Campbell Gertrude of Wyoming ii. vii And see thee once again whom I too shortly saw!
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 69 He's been but shortly in office.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxi A lady whom she knew but shortly.
5. In a small compass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [adverb] > in a small place
shortly1567
1567 R. Sempill in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. 32 Dartis about him swyftlie could he fling, And rin ane rais and shortlie turne ane steid.
1833 Darwin Jrnl. 15 Oct. It has the power of turning very shortly in the air.
6. At a short distance. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > [adverb] > a short distance
littlec1175
overby1680
shortly1908
1908 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 205 Shortly south of Donabyu the river Irrawaddy dissolves its main stream.
7. In combinations. Qualifying an adjective with the sense ‘having little length’. (Chiefly in Botany.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > shortness > [adverb]
short1706
shortly1840
1840 J. Paxton Pocket Bot. Dict. Shortly-acuminated,..Shortly~bifid, Shortly-two-cleft.
1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. ii. v. 558 More often the cotyledons remain thin like shortly stalked foliage-leaves of simple form.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1050
adv.c893