The change in meaning of the British "presently" strikes me as Orwellian, if not Monty-Python-esque, and must have been a product of bureaucracy:

"Oh, yes, of course I said your application was being dealt with presently. Did you think that meant 'at present'? Why, that's not at all what 'presently' means - 'presently' means, um, 'in a little while'."

"No, it doesn't!"

"Yes, it does! It means 'soon'; it means 'any day now'; it means 'don't worry, I'll get 'round to it'; it means 'patience is a virtue' .... "