presently
English
Alternative forms
- præsently (archaic)
Etymology
Pronunciation
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Audio (US): (file)
Adverb
presently (comparative more presently, superlative most presently)
- (now British, rare) Immediately, at once; quickly. [from 14thc.]
- ~1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2:
- Polonius: My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.
- The Bible: Matthew xxi. 19:
- And presently the fig tree withered away.
- Template:RQ:Flr Mntgn Essays, Folio Society, 2006, Vol.1, p.219:
- the butler supposing the Wine had beene so carefully commended unto him for the goodnesse of it, imediately presented some unto the Pope, who whilest he was drinking, his sonne came in and never imagining his bottles had beene toucht, tooke the cup and pledged his father, so that the Pope died presently; and the sonne, after he had long time beene tormented with sicknesse, recovered to another worse fortune.
- ~1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2:
- Before long; soon. [from 15thc.]
- 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3:
- It […] is the greatest example of lenity in our Saviour, when he desired of God forgiveness unto those, who having one day brought him into the City in triumph, did presently after, act all dishonour upon him, and nothing could be heard but, Crucifige, in their Courts.
- Template:RQ:Chmbrs YngrSt
- But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking.
- 1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin 2010, p.55:
- ‘I shall presently be getting a call to tell me of that.’
- 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3:
- At the present time; now; currently. [from 15thc.]
- (Can we date this quote by Philip Sidney and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- The towns and forts you presently have.
- 1891, The Welsh Review, No.1 (November 1891). "A Word to the Welsh People." p.1:
- To all of you, therefore, who call Wales your motherland, whether you presently inhabit some other portion of the globe or breathe the air of your cloud-kissed country […].
- (Can we date this quote by Philip Sidney and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (obsolete) With actual presence; in actuality. [~1600]
- (Can we date this quote by Bishop Stephen Gardiner and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- His precious body and blood presently three.
- (Can we date this quote by Bishop Stephen Gardiner and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Usage notes
- Some older usage guides, especially for UK English, object to the sense meaning "now", though most major modern dictionaries do not.
Translations
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -ly
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English adverbs
- British English
- English terms with rare senses
- Requests for date/Philip Sidney
- English terms with obsolete senses
- Requests for date/Bishop Stephen Gardiner
- en:Time