immediate English · revision 4707

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1392|origins=la-lat immediatus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɪˈmiː.di.ət/, US /ɪˈmiː.di.ɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|immediat]], [[bor|fro|immediat]] and [[la-med|immediātus]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la-lat|immediātus|t=without anything between]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from in- “not” and mediātus “intervening, in the middle”, the past participle of mediāre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from medius “middle”.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[mediate]], [[medium]] and [[mid]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Intervening, interposed: 1392 in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With nothing in between, direct, is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and absolute or conclusive from 1410.^(Barnhart 1988) In time, done without delay, it is found in 1568, with an earlier adverbial use in 1420;^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates the time sense to the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) Nearest in space or order, as in ''the immediate neighbourhood'', is from 1602,^(OED 1989) and of the present time, current, from 1605, in Bacon.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) In feudal law an immediate lord held directly from another without an intermediary (1543–1544).^(OED 1989) ''Immediately'' is before 1400,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''immediacy'' from 1605, in King Lear.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1392 – intervening.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1410 – absolute, conclusive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – direct, without anything between.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1568 – without delay.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – nearest in place or order.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – current, and ''immediacy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Happening or done at once; [[instant]] or [[prompt]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Existing now and needing attention: ''the immediate problem''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Nearest in place, time or relationship: ''the immediate family''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Acting directly, without anything between: ''the immediate cause''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[immediateness]]

+ * [[immediatism]]

+ * [[unimmediate]]

+ * [[immediately]]

+ * [[immediate annuity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[immediacy]]

+ * [[mediate]]

+ * [[medium]]

+ * [[mid]]

+ * [[intermediate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}