different between straightway vs instantly

English

Etymology 1

straight +? way

Alternative forms

• straightaway

Pronunciation

Noun

straightway (plural straightways)

1. A straight section of a racetrack.

Etymology 2

From straight +? way. First attested in the sense of "directly".

Adverb

straightway (not comparable)

1. (dated) Synonym of straightaway or straight away (at once, immediately).
   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 547:

     Now one day of the days, […] the Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him, and said to his Grand Wazir, "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee yesterday, so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may see what be her suit and fulfil her need."

   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

     This made her angrier than before, and she blew her silver whistle twice. Straightway a great flock of wild crows came flying toward her, enough to darken the sky.

2. Directly. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• enstantly (rare)
• instantlie (obsolete)
• instauntly (obsolete)

Etymology

From instant +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??nst?ntli/

Adverb

instantly (not comparable)

1. At once; without delay. [from 16th c.]
2. (archaic) Urgently; with insistence. [from 15th c.]
3. (obsolete) At the same time.

Synonyms

• (at once; without delay): immediately, instantaneously

Conjunction

instantly

1. as soon as, directly.

   I phoned instantly I heard you were back.

Translations