— imminently , adv. — imminentness , n.
/im"euh neuhnt/ , adj.
1. likely to occur at any moment; impending: Her death is imminent.
2. projecting or leaning forward; overhanging.
[ 1520-30; imminent- (s. of imminens ), prp. of imminere to overhang, equiv. to im- IM- 1 + -min- from a base meaning "jut out, project, rise" (cf. EMINENT, MOUNT 2 ) + -ent- -ENT ]
Syn. 1. near, at hand. IMMINENT, IMPENDING, THREATENING all may carry the implication of menace, misfortune, disaster, but they do so in differing degrees. IMMINENT may portend evil: an imminent catastrophe, but also may mean simply "about to happen": The merger is imminent. IMPENDING has a weaker sense of immediacy and threat than IMMINENT: Real tax relief legislation is impending, but it too may be used in situations portending disaster: impending social upheaval; to dread the impending investigation. THREATENING almost always suggests ominous warning and menace: a threatening sky just before the tornado struck.
Ant. 1. distant, remote.