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A moment; an instant; as, I will be ready in a jiffy. [Colloq.] J. & H. Smith.

A machine, for the production of animated pictures, in which a film carrying successive instantaneous views of a moving scene travels uniformly through the field of a magnifying glass. The observer sees each picture, momentarily, through a slit in a revolving disk, and these glimpses, blended by persistence of vision,…

e voltaic arc is used as the source of light. -- Dëbereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. -- Flameless l…

rt opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.

sound; noisy; striking the ear with great force; as, a loud cry; loud thunder. They were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. Luke xxiii. 23.

A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as, at thet very moment. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. xv. 52.

Human life; the life of a mortal being. From this instant There 's nothing serious in mortality. Shak.

Evolving; being evolved or produced. Nascent state (Chem.), the supposed instantaneous or momentary state of an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one compound acid, and not yet united with another, -- a hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state…

e liquid, used in medicine as a depressant and a vaso-dilator. Its inhalation produces an instantaneous flushing of the face.

At the present time; at this moment; at the time of speaking; instantly; as, I will write now. I have a patient now living, at an advanced age, who discharged blood from his lungs thirty years ago. Arbuthnot.

Instant; ready; extemporaneous; as, an offhand speech; offhand excuses. -- adv.

An indivisible portion of time; a moment; an instant; hence, the verge. When time's first point begun Made he all souls. Sir J. Davies.

Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident. "A present recompense." "A present pardon." Shak. An ambassador . . . desires a present audience. Massinger.

ments readily; not slow, dilatory, or hesitating in decision or action; responding on the instant; immediate; as, prompt in obedience or compliance; -- said of persons. Very discerning and prompt in giving orders. Clarendon. Tell him I am prompt To lay my crown at's feet. Shak. Any you, perhaps, too prompt in your repl…

al court. Fuller. Curve of pursuit (Geom.), a curve described by a point which is at each instant moving towards a second point, which is itself moving according to some specified law.

cted for the repair of a church or of a city. Sunk down and sought repair Of sleep, which instantly fell on me. Milton.

ipped off, by the rip cord, at landing, in order to allow the immediate escape of gas and instant deflation of the bag.

red. Pope. Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring. Wirt.

(one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.

pimp; a pander; also, a paramour. [Obs.] he [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, reveling with her ruffians. Bp. Reynolds.