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In a short or brief time or manner; soon; quickly. Chaucer. I shall grow jealous of you shortly. Shak. The armies came shortly in view of each other. Clarendon.

But if, unless. [Obs.] Chaucer. But this I read, that but if remedy Thou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see. Spenser.

her than. I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak. Ere long, before, shortly. Shak. -- Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak. -- Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.

n. -- Fibrin ferment (Physiol. Chem.), a ferment which makes its appearance in the blood shortly after it is shed, and is supposed to be the active agent in causing coagulation of the blood, with formation of fibrin.

A plan or purpose of action; intention; design. I shortly afterwards set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking while there the translation of the work. W. Irving.

the passage; as, to intercept a letter; a telegram will intercept him at Paris. God will shortly intercept your breath. Joye.

eely or wholly. I . . . have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Sam. i. 15. Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee. Ezek. vii. 8. London doth pour out her citizens ! Shak. Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth With such a full and unwithdrawing hand Milton.

At once; without delay; forthwith; also, less definitely, soon; shortly; before long; after a little while; by and by. Shak. And presently the fig tree withered away. Matt. xxi. 19.

In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. "Sooner said than done." Old Proverb. "As soon as it might be." Chaucer. She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore Soon learned. Milton.

To declare over one's signature; to publish. [Obs.] Either or must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. Shak.

o grow soft and pliable. I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him. Shak.

to make discussion; -- usually with of; as, Cicero treats of old age and of duties. And, shortly of this story for to treat. Chaucer. Now of love they treat. Milton.

ongfellow. Warning piece, Warning wheel (Horol.), a piece or wheel which produces a sound shortly before the clock strikes.