different between forthwith vs directly

English

Etymology

From Middle English forth-with (“at once, immediately; at the same time, already; straight ahead”) [and other forms], partly from the phrase forth with (something), and partly from forth-with-al, furth-with-al (“at once, immediately; together with”) (whence forthwithal).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /f????w?ð/, /-?w??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /f????w??/, /?f????w??/
• Rhymes: -?ð, -??
• Hyphenation: forth?with

Adverb

forthwith (not comparable)

1. (chiefly formal, literary) Without delay; immediately. [from early 14th c.]

   Synonyms: (archaic) forthwithal; see also Thesaurus:immediately

Translations

References

English

Etymology

direct +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d????k(t)li/, /da????k(t)li/

Adverb

directly (comparative more directly, superlative most directly)

1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course.

2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct means.

3. Plainly, without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.
4. Exactly; just.
5. Straightforwardly; honestly.

6. (dated) Immediately.
7. (Midlands) Soon; next; when it becomes convenient.

Synonyms

• (in a straight line or course): straightwise, undeviatingly
• (without circumlocution or ambiguity): bluntly, clearly, downrightly, unambiguously; see also Thesaurus:explicitly
• (exactly, just): accurately, precisely, slap bang; see also Thesaurus:exactly
• (straightforwardly, honestly): frankly, truthfully
• (immediately): forthwith, now, tout de suite; see also Thesaurus:immediately
• (soon, next): betimes, presently, shortly; see also Thesaurus:soon

Antonyms

• indirectly

Translations

Conjunction

directly

1. As soon as; immediately (elliptical for directly that/as/when)
   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 725:

     Tenderly, reluctantly, he took his leave of her, promising that he would contact her directly he got back, perhaps in ten days or so.

   • 2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate 2010, p. 463:

     He is to go to Calais, directly this is over, to replace Lord Berners as governor [...].

Anagrams

• tridecyl