immediate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Happening right away, with no delay.

   The medicine had an immediate effect on her headache.

2. 2
   adj

   Very close in space, time, or relationship.

   Only my immediate family came to the small wedding.

3. 3
   adj

   Existing or needed at the present time.

   Our immediate concern is to find somewhere safe to stay.

From Old French immediat (French immédiat), borrowed from Late Latin immediātus (“without in-between, moderation”), from Latin in + mediātus, perfect passive participle of mediō (“to halve, to be in the middle”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from medius (“middle”). By surface analysis, im- + mediate.

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