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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
instant adj 1 immediate instant success. 2 said of food and drink, etc: quickly and easily prepared, especially by reheating or the addition of boiling water instant coffee. 3 present; current. 4 (abbreviation inst.) relating to or occurring in the current month. 5 rather formal or old use urgent; pressing. noun 1 a particular moment in time, especially the present cannot speak to him at this instant At that same instant she walked in. 2 a very brief period of time I'll be there in an instant. 3 colloq an instant drink, especially instant coffee We only drink instant as a rule. instantly adverb at once; immediately I'll be there instantly. Also this instant and (formal or old use) on the instant Come here this instant! The carriage arrived on the instant.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: French, from Latin instare to be present.
instant adj 1 immediate instant success. 2 said of food and drink, etc: quickly and easily prepared, especially by reheating or the addition of boiling water instant coffee. 3 present; current. 4 (abbreviation inst.) relating to or occurring in the current month. 5 rather formal or old use urgent; pressing. noun 1 a particular moment in time, especially the present cannot speak to him at this instant At that same instant she walked in. 2 a very brief period of time I'll be there in an instant. 3 colloq an instant drink, especially instant coffee We only drink instant as a rule. instantly adverb at once; immediately I'll be there instantly. Also this instant and (formal or old use) on the instant Come here this instant! The carriage arrived on the instant.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: French, from Latin instare to be present.
instant adj 1 immediate instant success. 2 said of food and drink, etc: quickly and easily prepared, especially by reheating or the addition of boiling water instant coffee. 3 present; current. 4 (abbreviation inst.) relating to or occurring in the current month. 5 rather formal or old use urgent; pressing. noun 1 a particular moment in time, especially the present cannot speak to him at this instant At that same instant she walked in. 2 a very brief period of time I'll be there in an instant. 3 colloq an instant drink, especially instant coffee We only drink instant as a rule. instantly adverb at once; immediately I'll be there instantly. Also this instant and (formal or old use) on the instant Come here this instant! The carriage arrived on the instant.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: French, from Latin instare to be present.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.




Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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