different between headlong vs directly

English

Etymology

From Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), assimilated to long. More at headling.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• Rhymes: -?dl??
• Hyphenation: head?long

Adverb

headlong (not comparable)

1. With the head first or down.
2. With an unrestrained forward motion.

   Figures out today show the economy plunging headlong into recession.

3. Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation, in haste, hastily

Antonyms

• arselong (UK dialect)

Translations

Adjective

headlong (comparative more headlong, superlative most headlong)

1. Precipitous.
2. Plunging downwards head foremost.
3. Rushing forward without restraint.
4. (figuratively) Reckless, impetuous.
   • 1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, II:

     “Time is up,” cried another boy, more headlong than head-monitor.

Derived terms

• headlongness
• headlongs

Translations

Verb

headlong (third-person singular simple present headlongs, present participle headlonging, simple past and past participle headlonged)

1. (transitive) To precipitate.

Anagrams

• Hogeland

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