momentarily 的词源

1650年代，表示“片刻之间”，源自 momentary（瞬间的）+ -ly（副词后缀）。1928年起，开始有“随时”这一含义。

momentarily, momently. The first means for a moment (he was momentarily abashed), the second from moment to moment or every moment (am momently expecting a wire from him). The differentiation is well worth more faithful observance than it gets; & the substitution of either, which sometimes occurs, for instantly or immediately or at once is foolish novelty-hunting. [Fowler, 1926]

momentarily, momently。前者意为“片刻之间” (he was momentarily abashed)，后者则表示“时刻之间”或“每时每刻” (am momently expecting a wire from him)。这两者的区别值得更认真地对待，而不是随意混用。有时人们会错误地用其中一个替代 instantly（立刻）或 immediately（立即）或 at once（马上），这其实是一种无聊的新奇追求。[Fowler, 1926]