immediate

views updated May 29 2018

im·me·di·ate / iˈmēdē-it/ • adj. 1. occurring or done at once; instant: the authorities took no immediate action the book's success was immediate. ∎  relating to or existing at the present time: the immediate concern was how to avoid taxes.2. nearest in time, relationship, or rank: a funeral with only the immediate family in attendance. ∎  nearest or next to in space: roads in the immediate vicinity of the port. ∎  (of a relation or action) without an intervening medium or agency; direct: coronary thrombosis was the immediate cause of death.3. Philos. (of knowledge or reaction) gained or shown without reasoning; intuitive.DERIVATIVES: im·me·di·ate·ness n.

immediate

views updated Jun 08 2018

immediate XVI. — (O)F. immédiat or late L. immediātus, f. IM-2 + mediātus MEDIATE.
Hence immediacy XVII, immediately XV.

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