adj. 1 occurring or done at once or without delay (an immediate reply). 2 nearest, next; not separated by others (the immediate vicinity; the immediate future; my immediate neighbour). 3 most pressing or urgent (our immediate concern was to get him to hospital). 4 (of a relation or action) having direct effect; without an intervening medium or agency (the immediate cause of death). 5 (of knowledge) intuitive, gained without reasoning. immediacy n. immediateness n.
[ ME f. F immédiat or LL immediatus (as IN-(1), MEDIATE) ]