presently
Meaning
In a short time; soon.
At the present time; now.
Structure
Usage
The manager will be with you presently.
She is presently working on a new research project.
Presently, the door opened and the guests arrived.
Etymology
The word 'presently' originates from the Middle English 'presentli', directly formed from the adjective 'present' and the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The adjective 'present' comes from the Latin 'praesens', meaning 'being at hand', itself a combination of 'prae-' ('before') and the verb 'esse' ('to be'). This literal sense of 'being before (someone or something)' evolved into the meanings of 'existing now' or 'at hand'. Consequently, 'presently' initially meant 'at this time, now', a sense still used in some varieties of English. Over time, through a semantic shift where a future action conceived as 'being at hand' was perceived as imminent, it developed its now more common primary meaning of 'soon, in a short while'.
Analysis
- present: From Latin praesent- (stem of praesens), meaning 'being at hand, existing now'. It is formed from prae- ('before') + esse ('to be'). In this word, it functions as the core adjective root. - ly: A suffix of Germanic (Old English) origin used to form adverbs from adjectives, indicating manner or time.