By and by

Immediately (Matt. 13:21; R.V., “straightway;” Luke 21:9).

In the sense of "immediately" is the King James Version translation of exautes, of Mr 6:25 (the American Standard Revised Version "forthwith"); of euthus, Mt 13:21 (the American Standard Revised Version "straightway"); of eutheos, Lu 17:7 (the American Standard Revised Version "straightway"); Lu 21:9 (the American Standard Revised Version "immediately"). In English literally this meaning is obsolete (compare: "After you have dyned and supte, laboure not by and by after, but make a pause--the space of an howre or more with some pastyme") (Babees Book, EETS, 247).