instant

instant
{{11}}instant (adj.) mid-15c., "present, urgent," from O.Fr. instant (14c.), from L. instantem (nom. instans) "pressing, urgent," lit. "standing near" (see INSTANT (Cf. instant) (n.)). Meaning "now, present" is from 1540s, and led to the use of the word in dating of correspondence, in reference to the current month, often abbreviated inst. and persisting at least into the mid-19c. Thus 16th inst. means "sixteenth of the current month." Sense of "immediately" is from 1590s. Of foods, by 1912. Televised sports instant replay attested by 1965. Instant messaging attested by 1994.
{{12}}instant (n.) late 14c., "infinitely short space of time," from O.Fr. instant (adj.) "assiduous, at hand," from M.L. instantem (nom. instans), in classical Latin "present, pressing, urgent," lit. "standing near," prp. of instare "to urge, to stand near, be present (to urge one's case)," from in- "in" (see IN- (Cf. in-) (2)) + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see STET (Cf. stet)). Elliptical use of the French adjective as a noun.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • instant — instant, ante 1. (in stan, stan t ) adj. 1°   Qui poursuit, qui presse. Instante sollicitation. Aux instantes prières de cet homme. 2°   Qui nous est prochain, qui est sur nous. Le péril est instant. Le besoin est instant. •   Le régent avait… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • instant — n Instant, moment, minute, second, flash, jiffy, twinkling, split second are comparable when they mean a particular point of time or a stretch of time of almost imperceptible duration. Instant and moment are often used interchangeably {to us …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Instant — In stant, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See {Instant}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; as, teh situation may change in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instant — in·stant adj: being under present consideration the questions presented in the instant case Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. instant …   Law dictionary

  • Instant — In stant, a. [L. instans, antis, p. pr. of instare to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in in, on + stare to stand: cf. F. instant. See {Stand}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. [1913 Webster] Rejoicing in hope; patient… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instant- — DEFINICIJA 1. kao prvi dio riječi znači da što ima takav sastav ili da je izrađeno u takvoj tehnološkoj pripremi da se može prirediti brže nego što se to radi na uobičajen, tradicionalan način [instant kava; instant palenta] 2. iron. pejor. onaj… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • instant — in‧stant [ˈɪnstənt] adjective happening or available immediately: • We do not expect instant profits. • The agreement will offer subscribers instant access to overseas databases. * * * instant UK US /ˈɪnstənt/ adjective ► happening immediately,… …   Financial and business terms

  • Instant — ist ein Begriff bei Lebensmitteln, der Fertigprodukte bezeichnet. Wortherkunft Der Begriff instant [ɪnstənt], der im Deutschen ‚sofort‘ bedeutet, ist ein Lehnwort aus der englischen Sprache. Er kommt ursprünglich aus dem Latein, und findet sich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • instant — [in′stənt] adj. [LME < MFr < L instans, prp. of instare, to stand upon or near, press < in , in, upon + stare, to STAND] 1. urgent; pressing 2. soon to happen; imminent 3. without delay; immediate [to demand instant obedience] 4.… …   English World dictionary

  • instant — INSTÁNT adj. invar. Instantaneu, rapid. ♦ (Despre mâncăruri sau băuturi) Care se prepară repede, fără fierbere, prin dizolvare. [pr.: stánt] – cuv. engl. Trimis de valeriu, 21.07.2003. Sursa: DEX 98  instánt adj. m., pl. instánţi …   Dicționar Român

  • Instant- — Präfixoid sofort gebrauchsfähig erw. fach. ( ) Beschreibung von Affixen. Bildungen der Werbesprache nach dem Vorbild von ne. instant coffee sofort löslicher, sofort gebrauchsfähiger Kaffee . ne. instant stammt über mfrz. instant aus l. īnstāns… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”