adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scortlice, from scortlic brief, from scort short + -lic -ly — more at short
1.
a. : in a few words : briefly
may be described shortly
to put it shortly
b. : in an abrupt manner : curtly , harshly
said shortly that they looked all right, his antagonism beginning to rise — Archibald Marshall
2.
a. : in a short time : presently , soon
the two concluding volumes which will appear shortly — P.H.Douglas
b. : at a short interval of time
the glacial action which shortly preceded man's arrival in America — R.W.Murray
shortly before
shortly after
c. : for a short time
3. : at or for no great distance : not far
shortly beyond this site — American Guide Series: Vermont
an apron that fell from her waist to shortly below her knees — Newsweek