Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!seismo!mcvax!ukc!einode!simon From: simon@einode.UUCP (Simon Kenyon) Newsgroups: sci.lang Subject: Re: "Presently" ?= "Now" Message-ID: <206@einode.UUCP> Date: Tue, 4-Nov-86 07:12:08 EST Article-I.D.: einode.206 Posted: Tue Nov 4 07:12:08 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Nov-86 21:58:32 EST References: <442@cdx39.UUCP> Organization: The National Software Centre, Dublin, Ireland. Lines: 21 someone said: >>> On the other hand, the reversion of 'presently' to its old meaning >>> has left us with two words ('presently' and 'currently') with identical >>> meanings, and no convenient word for 'in a short while, but with no >>> great urgency'. i said: >>over here, presently means what you imply it no longer means over there. >>ie to someone on hold "he'll be with you presently" (5-10 minutes :-)) someone else said: >Gee, in my funny dialect, I'd say "He'll be with you soon." Or I >might say "right away" or "real soon". i say: so would i, but i was just illustating a point :-) in fact, i'd probebly use a Pournellism "he'll be with you"REAL SOON NOW"" (sigh) -- Simon Kenyon EUnet: simon@einode.UUCP Smail: The National Software Centre, Dublin, IRELAND Phone: +353-1-716255 EUnet is a registered trademark of the EUUG