imminent : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: imminent	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for imminent
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
imminent adj close in time; about to occur; "retribution is at hand"; "some people believe the day of judgment is close at hand"; "in imminent danger"; "his impending retirement" Synonym(s): at hand(p), close at hand(p), imminent, impendent, impending
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Imminent \Im"minent\, a. [L. imminens, p. pr. of imminere to project; pref. im- in + minere (in comp.) to jut, project. See {Eminent}.] 1. Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; -- said especially of misfortune or peril. [bd]In danger imminent.[b8] --Spenser. 2. Full of danger; threatening; menacing; perilous. Hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent* deadly breach. --Shak. 3. (With upon) Bent upon; attentive to. [R.] Their eyes ever imminent upon worldly matters. --Milton. Syn: Impending; threatening; near; at hand. Usage: {Imminent}, {Impending}, {Threatening}. Imminent is the strongest: it denotes that something is ready to fall or happen on the instant; as, in imminent danger of one's life. Impending denotes that something hangs suspended over us, and may so remain indefinitely; as, the impending evils of war. Threatening supposes some danger in prospect, but more remote; as, threatening indications for the future. Three times to-day You have defended me from imminent death. --Shak. No story I unfold of public woes, Nor bear advices of impending foes. --Pope. Fierce faces threatening war. --Milton.