WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Di*rect"ly
Part of Speech : adv.
Definition : 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. -- 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913