immediate

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ɪˈmiː.di.ət/, US /ɪˈmiː.di.ɪt/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English immediat, borrowed from Old French immediat and Medieval Latin immediātus,^[2][3] from Late Latin immediātus (“without anything between”),^[3][4] from in- “not” and mediātus “intervening, in the middle”, the past participle of mediāre,^[3][2][5] from medius “middle”.^[2] It is related to mediate, medium and mid.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Intervening, interposed: 1392 in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

With nothing in between, direct, is from the early 15th century,^[3][2] and absolute or conclusive from 1410.^[2] In time, done without delay, it is found in 1568, with an earlier adverbial use in 1420;^[2] Etymonline dates the time sense to the early 15th century.^[3] Nearest in space or order, as in the immediate neighbourhood, is from 1602,^[6] and of the present time, current, from 1605, in Bacon.^[2][6] In feudal law an immediate lord held directly from another without an intermediary (1543–1544).^[6] Immediately is before 1400,^[2] and immediacy from 1605, in King Lear.^[2]

Timeline

• 1392 – intervening.^[2]
• 1410 – absolute, conclusive.^[2]
• early 15th century – direct, without anything between.^[3]
• 1568 – without delay.^[2]
• 1602 – nearest in place or order.^[6]
• 1605 – current, and immediacy.^[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Happening or done at once; instant or prompt.
2. Existing now and needing attention: the immediate problem.
3. Nearest in place, time or relationship: the immediate family.
4. Acting directly, without anything between: the immediate cause.

Word family

• immediateness
• immediatism
• unimmediate
• immediately
• immediate annuity

Related words

• immediacy
• mediate
• medium
• mid
• intermediate

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press