imminent, a.
(ˈɪmɪnənt)
Also 6–8 erron. iminent, eminent (see eminent 6).
[ad. L. imminens, -ēnt-em, pres. pple. of imminēre to project or lean over, overhang, impend, be near, f. im- (im-1) + -minēre, as in ēminēre: cf. eminent. Cf. F. imminent (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. Of an event, etc. (almost always of evil or danger): Impending threateningly, hanging over one's head; ready to befall or overtake one; close at hand in its incidence; coming on shortly.
| 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. l. 115 Fear..being so imminent and lately felt. 1555 Eden Decades 103 Preseruation from so many imminent perels. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. iii. 19 You haue defended me from imminent death. 1604 ― Oth. i. iii. 136 Haire-breadth scapes i' th' imminent deadly breach. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 3 Presaging their intended and imminent destruction. 1769 Robertson Chas. V (1813) III. vii. 26 To oppose, first of all, the nearest and most imminent danger. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 27 Invasion was imminent. 1883 C. J. Wills Mod. Persia 330 In an Austrian lottery..a drawing was imminent. |
† 2. Remaining fixed or intent (upon something). Obs. [L. imminēre in sense ‘to be intent upon’.]
| 1641 Milton Reform. ii. 65 Their eyes ever imminent upon worldly matters. |
3. In literal sense: Projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.
| 1727 W. Mather Yng. Man's Comp. 27 Eminent, famous. Iminent, over head. 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872) I. 38 Heights began to rise imminent above our way. |
† 4. Confused with immanent. Obs.
| 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. iv. (1628) 108 This..requireth an imminent reason to be sought for. 1644 Hunton Vind. Treat. Monarchy v. 40 Now Legislation is an imminent Act, consisting in a meer expression of an Authoritative Will. 1677 Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 24 Our present formed thoughts, the immediate and imminent acts of the mind. 1856 Dove Logic Chr. Faith v. i. §2. 272 The moral law of the conscience is the most..imminent of all that can be called Knowledge. |
† 5. Confused with eminent a. Obs.
| 1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 15 Some imminent Scots. |