imminent

English

Etymology

From the present participle of Latin imminēre (“to overhang”), from mineō ("to project, overhang"), related to minae (English menace) and mons (English mount). Compare with eminent.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɪmɪnənt/ or /ˈɪmənənt/
  • Audio (UK)(file)

Adjective

imminent (comparative more imminent, superlative most imminent)

  1. about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
    • 1927, Whitney v. California:
      To courageous, self-reliant men, with confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning applied through the processes of popular government, no danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion.

Usage notes

  • Imminent and eminent are very similar sounds, and are weak rhymes; in some dialects, these may be confused. A typo of either word may result in a correction to the wrong word by spellchecking software. Imminent is also sometimes confused with immanent.
  • Said of danger, threat and death.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

  • imminent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • imminent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • imminent at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin imminēns (“projecting, overhanging; threatening, menacing”).

Adjective

imminent (masculine and feminine plural imminents)

  1. imminent

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /i.mi.nɑ̃/

Adjective

imminent (feminine singular imminente, masculine plural imminents, feminine plural imminentes)

  1. imminent

Derived terms

Further reading

Latin

Verb

imminent

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of immineō
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.