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.
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.