Where does “instantly” come from?
Instantly comes from English instant, from French instant, from Latin instans meaning "standing upon or present," derived from the prefix in- and the Proto-Indo-European root steh₂- meaning "to stand."
instantly (English): At once; without delay; Urgently; with...
Definitions
- At once; without delay; Urgently; with...
Ancestry of “instantly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | instant | A very short period of time; a moment; A single,... |
| 2 | Middle English | instant | infinitely short period of time |
| 3 | Old French | instant | assiduous, at hand |
| 4 | Latin | īnstāns | — |
| 5 | Latin | stō | — |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | staēō | stand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sth₂éh₁yeti | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | *steh₂- | — |
Words derived from “instantly”