instant

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Contents

English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, a), from Latin instans, instant- (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), from in + stāre (“to stand”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand.

Noun [edit]

instant (plural instants)

  1. A very short period of time; a moment.
    • She paused for only an instant, which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
  2. A single, usually precise, point in time.
    • The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
  3. An instant beverage or food, especially instant coffee.
  4. The current month (abbreviated as: inst.)
    • In response to your letter of the twenty-first instant...
Translations [edit]
period of time
point in time
instant beverage or food

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Old French and French instant, from Latin instans (“standing by, being near, present, also urgent, importunate”), present participle of instare (“to stand upon, press upon, urge, pursue, insist”), from in (“on, upon”) + stare (“to stand”); see state.

Adjective [edit]

instant (not comparable)

  1. Impending; imminent.
  2. Urgent; pressing; acute.
  3. Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
    • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, The Hocussing of Cigarette[1]:
      No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
  4. Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
  5. Very quickly and easily prepared (food or drink), for example instant coffee.
  6. Of the current month (abbreviation inst.).
    • “I refer to your letter of the 16th inst. in regard to traffic disruption”
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
imminent
urgent
immediate
momentary
quickly prepared
of the current month

Adverb [edit]

instant (not comparable)

  1. (poetic) At once; immediately.
    • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I.182:
      He left the room for his relinquished sword, / And Julia instant to the closet flew.

Related terms [edit]

Statistics [edit]

Catalan [edit]

Noun [edit]

instant m (plural instants)

  1. instant (very short period of time)

French [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /ɛ̃stɑ̃/
  • instant
    		(file)

Adjective [edit]

instant m (feminine instante, masculine plural instants, feminine plural instantes)

  1. (literary) pressing, insistent

Noun [edit]

instant m (plural instants)

  1. instant, minute, moment

Derived terms [edit]

Latin [edit]

Verb [edit]

instant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of instō

Romanian [edit]

Etymology [edit]

English instant

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: [inˈstant]

Adjective [edit]

instant 4 nom/acc forms

  1. instant

Declension [edit]

declension of instant
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative/
accusative		 indefinite instant instantă instanți instante
definite instantul instanta instanții instantele
genitive/
dative		 indefinite instant instante instanți instante
definite instantului instantei instanților instantelor

Adverb [edit]

instant

  1. instantly
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