imminent

imminent
imminently, adv.imminentness, n.
/im"euh neuhnt/, adj.
1. likely to occur at any moment; impending: Her death is imminent.
2. projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.
[1520-30; < L imminent- (s. of imminens), prp. of imminere to overhang, equiv. to im- IM-1 + -min- from a base meaning "jut out, project, rise" (cf. EMINENT, MOUNT2) + -ent- -ENT]
Syn. 1. near, at hand. IMMINENT, IMPENDING, THREATENING all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. IMMINENT may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply "about to happen": The merger is imminent. IMPENDING has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than IMMINENT: Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. THREATENING almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
Ant. 1. distant, remote.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • imminent — imminent, ente [ iminɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • XIVe, repris XVIe; lat. imminens, de imminere « menacer » ♦ Qui va se produire dans très peu de temps. ⇒ immédiat, proche. Son arrestation est imminente. « Rien n est plus imminent que l impossible » (Hugo).… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Imminent — Im mi*nent, a. [L. imminens, p. pr. of imminere to project; pref. im in + minere (in comp.) to jut, project. See {Eminent}.] 1. Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; said especially of misfortune or peril. In danger imminent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imminent — is a Belgian musical project formerly, and still commonly known as Imminent Starvation. It is a staple act of Germany’s industrial and power noise record label, Ant Zen. Members / HistoryImminent Starvation was founded by Olivier Moreau, who has… …   Wikipedia

  • imminent — I adjective about to be, about to happen, alarming, approaching, at hand, brewing, closing in, coming, destined, drawing near, expected, following, forecasted, forthcoming, future, imminere, impendent, impendere, impending, in store, in the… …   Law dictionary

  • imminent — imminent, ente (i mmi nan, nan t ) adj. Dont la menace est prochaine. Une disgrâce imminente. •   Je vois de mon pays le péril imminent, LEMIERRE Barnevelt, IV, 5. REMARQUE    Il faut prendre garde de confondre éminent et imminent. Une dignité,… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • imminent — (adj.) 1520s, from M.Fr. imminent (14c.) and directly from L. imminentem (nom. imminens), prp. of imminere to overhang; impend, be near, be at hand, from assimilated form of in into, in, on, upon (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + minere jut out, related… …   Etymology dictionary

  • imminent — imminent, immanent The more common word imminent, derived from the Latin word minēre ‘to threaten’, means ‘about to happen’ and has connotations of threat or danger. Immanent, derived from the Latin word manēre ‘to remain’, means ‘indwelling,… …   Modern English usage

  • imminent — IMMINENT, [imminen]te. Prest à tomber sur quelqu un. Il n est guere en usage, & quand on le joint avec peril qui est la phrase où il s employe le plus naturellement on écrit & on prononce communement, Peril eminent, Au lieu de Peril imminent …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Imminént — (lat.), nahe bevorstehend (von etwas Schlimmem), drohend …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Imminént — (lat.), nahe bevorstehend, drohend; Imminénz, das Bevorstehen, drohende Nähe …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Imminent — Imminent, lat. deutsch, bevorstehend; drohend; Imminenz, das Herannahen, besonders das drohende; imminiren, Gefahr drohen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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