## Meanings
1. A very short moment of time.
2. Happening or produced immediately, with no delay.
3. Quick and easy to prepare, usually by adding water.

## Examples
- For an instant, I thought I saw someone at the window.
- The movie was an instant success.
- I made a cup of instant coffee.

## Derived Forms
- ibuyer
- instagram
- instantise
- instantize
- instantly
- instantness
- instanton
- point-instant

## Related Forms
- instakill
- instance

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *steh₂-
- Root: instant
- Root: instans

## Etymology
From Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, adjective), from Latin īnstāns, īnstantis (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), present active participle of īnstō (“to stand upon, be nearby”), from in- (“after”) + stō (“to stand”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand.

## AI Etymology
Instant comes from Middle English instant (“infinitely short period of time”), from Old French instant (“assiduous, at hand”, adjective), from Latin īnstāns, īnstantis (“present, pressing, urgent”, literally “standing near”), present active participle of īnstō (“to stand upon, be nearby”), from in- (“after”) + stō (“to stand”). Compare Old English instede (“immediately, on the spot, at once”). More at in, stand. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *steh₂- and instans.

## Topics
- Time
- Describing Qualities

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