ˈinstantly, adv.
[f. instant a. + -ly2.]
1. Urgently, persistently, with importunity. arch.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 29 Whan he had required them instantly and admonested them to doo well he dide doo marche them ayenst their enemyes. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 86 Labour instauntly, or busyly, & worke with thy handes all that thou mayst. 1526 Tindale Luke vii. 4 They..besought him instantly. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. (1807–8) III. 31 The knights themselves, who uerie instantlie had stood in this error..besought the archbishop to pardon them. 1631 Rutherford Lett. xvi. (1862) I. 72 Pray instantly..for this King. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 150 Both Houses instantly invited the King to return. |
† b. Pressingly, so as to press upon. Obs.
| 1638 F. Junius Paint. of Ancients 72 Some fierce conquerours..are instantly at their heeles, persecuting, wounding. |
† 2. At this or that very moment; now, just now, just. Obs.
| c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iv. 380, I Haue beyne with the Iuge Pilat instantlye. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. viii. 138 Our quene is instantlie lychter of a bony barne. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 396 Arriving at Messina..I encountered with [some Englishmen] who instantly were both come from Malta. |
3. In a moment; immediately, forthwith, at once.
| 1552 Huloet, Instantly, euestigio. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. ii. 27 Addresse thee instantly. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 262 Instantly upon the same, came the holy Chariots of Jupiter. 1653 Walton Angler 50 You must do me one courtesie, it must be done instantly. 1794 Nelson 26 July in Nicolas Disp. (1845) I. 459 He has never expressed a wish that has not instantly been complied with. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xviii. 129 The snow melted instantly wherever it came in contact with the rock. |
b. conjunctively (with or without that, † as). The moment that, as soon as.
| 1793 E. Parsons Woman as she should be I. 193 The poor lady was actually dead almost instantly that she perpetrated the fatal deed. Ibid. II. 84 Almost instantly as I alighted, I fainted. 1827 J. Symmons in E. H. Barker Parriana (1828) I. 533 Instantly the Doctor was out of his stirrups, ‘the calumet of peace’ was lighted. 1852 Thackeray Esmond I. 38 He ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother. |
4. Immediately (in position). rare.
| 1849 Ruskin Sev. Lamps iii. §6. 69 Opposite the south⁓east angle..the dome is seen rising instantly above the apse and transepts. |