instans Latin · revision 9304

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la stō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnstāns''' (genitive īnstantis, adverb īnstanter); third-declension one-termination participle^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[īnstō]] “to stand on, press on, be at hand”, from [[in-]] and [[stō]] “to stand”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it meant present, at hand, as in Cicero; in Quintilian ''tempus īnstāns'' is the present time.^(Gaffiot 2016) The comparative ''īnstantior'' meant more urgent, more pressing, of people in Tacitus and of situations in Quintilian.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval scholastic Latin used ''īnstāns'' as a noun for an instant, a moment.^(Köbler 2010) Through Old French ''instant'' “near, urgent” it gave [[en|instant]] in the late 14th century, “a moment in time”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the present.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses the comparative of people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''instant'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Present, at hand, ''tempus īnstāns'', the present.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Urgent, pressing.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An [[m|en|instant]], moment.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īnstō]]

+ * [[īnstantia]]

+ * [[en|instant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}