presently

What it means

1. proscribedrareAt present; now; currently.First known use 15ᵗʰc.

   The towns and forts you presently have.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

   1 more example

   To all of you, therefore, who call Wales your motherland, whether you presently inhabit some other portion of the globe or breathe the air of your cloud-kissed country […].

   1891, The Welsh Review, No.1 (November 1891). "A Word to the Welsh People." p.1

   Synonyms: right now, at the moment

2. UKarchaicImmediately, at once; quickly.First known use 14ᵗʰc.

   And presently the fig tree withered away.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 21:19

   2 more examples

   Polonius: My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   the butler supposing the Wine had beene so carefully commended unto him for the goodnesse of it, imediately presented some unto the Pope, who whilest he was drinking, his sonne came in and never imagining his bottles had beene toucht, tooke the cup and pledged his father, so that the Pope died presently; and the sonne, after he had long time beene tormented with sicknesse, recovered to another worse fortune.

   , Folio Society, 2006, Vol.1, p.219

3. UKarchaicBefore long; soon.First known use 15ᵗʰc.

   Presently all was quiet again.

   4 more examples

   It[…]is the greatest example of lenity in our Saviour, when he desired of God forgiveness unto those, who having one day brought him into the City in triumph, did presently after, act all dishonour upon him, and nothing could be heard but, Crucifige, in their Courts.

   1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3

   But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking.

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

   I shall forget you presently, my dear, / So make the most of this, your little day, / Your little month, your little half a year, / Ere I forget, or die, or move away,

   1921, Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Sonnet IV”, in A Few Figs from Thistles

   ‘I shall presently be getting a call to tell me of that.’

   1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, page 55

In a sentence

The towns and forts you presently have.

The New Arcadia

a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishpresently
2. Englishpresently

From Middle English presently; equivalent to present + -ly.

First known use: 15ᵗʰc.