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English
Etymology
From Middle English schortly, schortliche, from Old English sċortlīċe (“shortly; before long; soon”), equivalent to short + -ly.
Pronunciation
Adverb
shortly (not comparable)
- In a short or brief time or manner; quickly.
- In or after a short time; soon.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46:No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.
- In few words
- Synonyms: briefly, concisely
Ideas are generally expressed more shortly in verse than in prose
1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A Millar, , →OCLC:We shall not describe this tragical scene too fully; but we thought ourselves obliged, by that historic integrity which we profess, shortly to hint a matter which we would otherwise have been glad to have spared.
- In an irritable ("short") manner.
- Synonyms: abruptly, curtly
2009, Susanne James, The Millionaire's Chosen Bride, page 147:'Well, I still think it was a rather off-hand way for you—for anyone—to behave,' he said shortly.
Suddenly Melody felt trapped—and annoyed. And she didn't like being spoken to like a child, either.
Translations
in a short or brief time or manner
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English sċortlīċ, equivalent to short + -ly.
Alternative forms
Adjective
shortly
- lasting a short time; transitory
- brief; concise
- fast; quick
Etymology 2
From Old English sċortlīċe, equivalent to short + -ly.
Alternative forms
Adverb
shortly
- shortly (in a short period of time)
- 14th Century, Chaucer, General Prologue
- Now have I toold you shortly in a clause
- Now that I have briefly told you above