2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Directly  \Di*rect"ly\,  adv 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  directly 
  adv  1:  without  deviation;  "the  path  leads  directly  to  the  lake"; 
  "went  direct  to  the  office"  [syn:  {straight},  {direct}] 
  2:  without  anyone  or  anything  intervening;  "these  two  factors 
  are  directly  related";  "he  was  directly  responsible"; 
  "measured  the  physical  properties  directly" 
  3:  without  delay;  with  no  time  intervening;  "he  answered 
  immediately";  "found  an  answer  straightaway";  "an  official 
  accused  of  dishonesty  should  be  supended  forthwith";  "Come 
  here  now!"  [syn:  {immediately},  {instantly},  {straightaway}, 
  {now},  {right  away},  {at  once},  {forthwith},  {in  real 
  time}] 
  4:  in  a  forthright  manner;  candidly  or  frankly;  "he  didn't 
  answer  directly";  "told  me  straight  out";  "came  out  flat 
  for  less  work  and  more  pay"  [syn:  {flat},  {straight}] 
  [ant:  {indirectly}] 

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