instant

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Adjective 1.3.1.1 Derived terms 1.3.1.2 Related terms 1.3.1.3 Translations 1.3.2 Adverb 1.4 Related terms 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adjective 2.3 Noun 2.3.1 Derived terms 3 Romanian 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Pronunciation 3.3 Adjective 3.3.1 Declension 3.4 Adverb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈɪnstənt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology 1

From Latin instans “a moment of time”, formed as the adjective.

[edit] Noun

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...

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

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

[edit] Adjective

instant (comparative more instant, superlative most instant)

1. Impending; imminent.
2. Urgent; pressing; acute.
3. Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
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”

[edit] Derived terms

• instantize, instantise
• instantly
• instant replay

[edit] Related terms

• instakill
• instance

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adverb

instant

1. (poetic) At once; immediately.

[edit] Related terms

• inst
• instance
• instancy
• instantaneous
• instantaneously
• instanter
• instantial
• instantiate
• instantly

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɛ̃stɑ̃/
•  instant^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

instant m. (f. instante, m. plural instants, f. plural instantes)

1. (literary) pressing, insistent

[edit] Noun

instant m. (plural instants)

1. instant, minute, moment

[edit] Derived terms

• de tous les instants
• instantané

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[edit] Romanian

[edit] Etymology

English instant

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: [in'stant]

[edit] Adjective

instant ^{4 nom/acc forms}

1. instant

[edit] Declension

[edit] Adverb

instant

1. instantly