IMMINENT
Etymology
Adjective
imminent (comparative more imminent, superlative most imminent)
about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
Usage notes
• Imminent and eminent are very similar sounds, and are weak rhymes; in dialects with the pin-pen merger, these become homophones. A typo of either word may result in a correction to the wrong word by spellchecking software. Imminent is also sometimes confused with immanent.
• Said of danger, threat and death.
Synonyms
• inevitable, immediate, impending; see also impending
Anagrams
• miniment
Source: Wiktionary
Im"mi*nent, a. Etym: [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. "In danger imminent." 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.
– 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition