■ adjective
1》 happening immediately.
↘(of food) processed to allow quick preparation.
2》 dated urgent; pressing.
3》 [ postposition ] dated (in business letters) of the current month: your letter of the 6th ~.
4》 archaic of the present.
■ noun
1》 a precise moment of time.
2》 a very short time.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. ~- , instare 'be at hand', from in- 'in, at' + stare 'to stand'.