Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Instant
In′stant
,Adj.
[L.
instans
, -antis
, p. pr. of instare
to stand upon, to press upon; pref. in-
in, on + stare
to stand: cf. F. instant
. See Stand
.] 1.
Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing
instant
in prayer. Rom. xii. 12.
I am beginning to be very
instant
for some sort of occupation. Carlyle.
2.
Closely pressing or impending in respect to time; not deferred; immediate; without delay.
Impending death is thine, and
instant
doom. Prior.
3.
Present; current.
The
instant
time is always the fittest time. Fuller.
☞ The word in this sense is now used only in dates, to indicate the current month; as, the tenth of July instant.
In′stant
,adv.
Instantly.
[Poetic]
Instant
he flew with hospitable haste. Pope.
In′stant
,Noun.
There is scarce an
instant
between their flourishing and their not being. Hooker.
Syn. – Moment; flash; second.
Webster 1828 Edition
Instant
IN'STANT
,Adj.
1.
Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Rom.12.
2.
Immediate; without intervening time; present. Impending death is thine and instant doom.
3.
Quick; making no delay. Instant he flew with hospitable haste.
4.
Present; current. On the tenth of July instant.IN'STANT
,Noun.
1.
A particular time.