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for a short time;
"he was at the airport shortly before she was expected to arrive"
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in the near future;
"the doctor will soon be here"
"the book will appear shortly"
"she will arrive presently"
"we should have news before long"
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in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner;
"he told me curtly to get on with it"
"he talked short with everyone"
"he said shortly that he didn't like it"
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in a concise manner; in a few words;
"the history is summed up concisely in this book"
"she replied briefly"
"briefly, we have a problem"
"to put it shortly"
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at a short distance;
"the hem fell shortly below her knees"