Dĭ-rēct'ly, adv.
adv. 1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course; without curving, swerving, or deviation.
Sense 2. Without interposition or interruption; without circumlocution or ambiguity; in an immediate, express, or absolute manner.
No man hath been so impious as directly to condemn prayer. Hooker.
Sense 3. Straightway; without delay; immediately.
He will directly to the lords, I fear. Milton.
Sense 4. Instantly; without delay; immediately.
Sense 5. Immediately after; as soon as; when.
Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed by four men. Dickens.
This use of the word, although very common in England and gaining ground in the United States, is not sanctioned by the authority of careful writers, and must be regarded as a gross solecism.
Directly proportional (Math.), proportional in the order of the terms, or so as to increase or decrease together, and with a constant ratio;—opposed to inversely proportional.
Synonyms—Immediately; soon; promptly; instantly; instantaneously; openly; expressly.—DIRECTLY, IMMEDIATELY, INSTANTLY. 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 or instantaneously,” allows not a particle of delay.