a. | 1. | |
1. | Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. | |
2. | Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay. | |
3. | Present; current. | |
adv. | 1. | Instantly. |
n. | 1. | |
1. | A point in time; a moment; a portion of time too short to be estimated; also, any particular moment; | |
2. | A day of the present or current month; |
Noun | 1. | instant - a very short time (as the time it takes the eye blink or the heart to beat); "if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash" Synonyms: jiffy, New York minute, split second, trice, twinkling, wink, blink of an eye, heartbeat, flash |
2. | instant - a particular point in time; "the moment he arrived the party began" | |
Adj. | 1. | instant - occurring with no delay; "relief was instantaneous"; "instant gratification" Synonyms: instantaneous |
2. | instant - in or of the present month; "your letter of the 10th inst" Synonyms: inst | |
3. | instant - demanding attention; "clamant needs"; "a crying need"; "regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous"- H.L.Mencken; "insistent hunger"; "an instant need" |
INSTANT. An indivisible space of time.
2. Although it cannot be actually divided, yet by intendment of law,
it may be applied to several purposes; for example, he who lays violent
hands upon himself, commits no felony till he is dead, and when he is dead
he is not in being so as to be termed a felon; but he is so adjudged in law,
eo instante, at the very instant this fact is done. Vin. Ab. Instant, A, pl.
2; Plowd. 258; Co. Litt. 18; Show. 415.