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imminent - 4 dictionary results
im⋅mi⋅nent
[im-uh-nuh
nt] 
–adjective
| 1. | likely to occur at any moment; impending: Her death is imminent. |
| 2. | projecting or leaning forward; overhanging. |
Origin:
1520–30; < L imminent- (s. of imminēns), prp. of imminēre to overhang, equiv. to im- im- 1 + -min- from a base meaning “jut out, project, rise” (cf. eminent, mount 2 ) + -ent- -ent
1520–30; < L imminent- (s. of imminēns), prp. of imminēre to overhang, equiv. to im- im- 1 + -min- from a base meaning “jut out, project, rise” (cf. eminent, mount 2 ) + -ent- -ent
Related forms:
im⋅mi⋅nent⋅ly, adverb
im⋅mi⋅nent⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
1. near, at hand. Imminent, Impending, Threatening all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. Imminent may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply “about to happen”: The merger is imminent. Impending has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than imminent: Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. Threatening almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
1. near, at hand. Imminent, Impending, Threatening all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. Imminent may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply “about to happen”: The merger is imminent. Impending has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than imminent: Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. Threatening almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
Antonyms:
1. distant, remote.
1. distant, remote.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To imminent
| im·mi·nent (ĭm'ə-nənt) adj. About to occur; impending: in imminent danger. [Middle English iminent, from Old French imminent, from Latin imminēns, imminent-, present participle of imminēre, to overhang : in-, in; see in-2 + -minēre, to jut, threaten; see men-2 in Indo-European roots.] im'mi·nent·ly adv., im'mi·nent·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Imminent
Im"mi*nent\, a. [L. imminens, p. pr. of imminere to project; pref. im- in + minere (in comp.) to jut, project. See Eminent.]1. Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; -- said especially of misfortune or peril. "In danger imminent." --Spenser. 2. Full of danger; threatening; menacing; perilous. Hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach. --Shak. 3. (With upon) Bent upon; attentive to. [R.] Their eyes ever imminent upon worldly matters. --Milton. Syn: Impending; threatening; near; at hand. Usage: Imminent, Impending, Threatening. Imminent is the strongest: it denotes that something is ready to fall or happen on the instant; as, in imminent danger of one's life. Impending denotes that something hangs suspended over us, and may so remain indefinitely; as, the impending evils of war. Threatening supposes some danger in prospect, but more remote; as, threatening indications for the future. Three times to-day You have defended me from imminent death. --Shak. No story I unfold of public woes, Nor bear advices of impending foes. --Pope. Fierce faces threatening war. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : imminent
Spanish:
inminente,
German:
bevorstehen,
Japanese:
差し迫った
imminent
1528, from L. imminentem (nom. imminens), prp. of imminere "to overhang, impend, be near," from in- "into" + minere "jut out," related to mons "hill" (see mount).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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