Where does “instant” come from?

instant (Middle English) comes from Old French instant, from Latin īnstāns, from Latin stō, from Proto-Italic staēō, from Proto-Indo-European sth₂éh₁yeti, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.

instant (Middle English): infinitely short period of time

Definitions

  1. infinitely short period of time

Ancestry of “instant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchinstantassiduous, at hand
2Latinīnstānsstanding or pressing upon
3Latinstōto stand
4Proto-Italicstaēōstand
5Proto-Indo-Europeansth₂éh₁yetito stand
6Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-—

Words derived from “instant”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European sth₂éh₁yeti →Every word from Proto-Italic staēō →
instant — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer