proximate

Etymology

From Late Latin proximatus, past participle of proximare (“to draw near, approach”), from Latin proximus (“nearest”), superlative of prope (“near”).

Adjective

proximate (not comparable)

1. Close or closest; adjacent.
   • J. S. Harford

     proximate ancestors

   • T. Burnet

     the proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]

2. (law) Immediately preceding or following in a chain of causation.
3. About to take place; impending.

Noun

proximate (plural proximates)

1. (linguistics) A grammatical marker in the Algonquian (and some other) languages for a principal third person.

Related terms

• approximate
• approximation
• approximator
• proximity

See also

• obviative

Further reading

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

Verb

proximāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of proximō