Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. in?tant. See {Stand}.] 1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. --Rom. xii. 12. I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation. --Carlyle. 2. Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay. Impending death is thine, and instant doom. --Prior. 3. Present; current. The instant time is always the fittest time. --Fuller. Note: The word in this sense is now used only in dates, to indicate the current month; as, the tenth of July instant.
\In"stant\, adv. Instantly. [Poetic] Instant he flew with hospitable haste. --Pope.
\In"stant\, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near, present. See {Instant}, a.] 1. A point in duration; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment. There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not being. --Hooker. 2. A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i. e., the current month. See {Instant}, a., 3. Syn: Moment; flash; second.