Instant
/ˈɪn.stənt/noun
A very short period of time; immediate.
Did you know?In Latin, the root behind *instant* comes from *instāre*, meaning to stand on, press upon, or be urgent — so the word began as a force of pressure, not speed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sta-
“to stand, make firm”
Latin
Latin
instāre
“to stand on, press upon, be urgent”
Late Latin
Latin
instantem
“pressing, urgent, immediate”
Old French
Old French
instant
“urgent, immediate”
Middle English
English
instant
“pressing, immediate”
Modern English
English
instant
“occurring immediately, or a very short moment”
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