in´stant, in´stant-li: Derivative from Latin instare. Found in English with various meanings from the 15th century to the present time.
Instant is used once in in the sense of immediate time; elsewhere in the sense of urgent, pressing; , where “were instant†is the King James Version translation of the verb ἐπεÌκειντο, epeÌkeinto; , where it is involved in the verb Ï€ÏοσκαÏτεÏεÌω, proskartereÌoÌ„; compare . In it stands for the expressive verb ἐπιÌστηθι, epıÌsteÌ„thi, “stand to.â€
Instantly (urgently, steadfastly) is the King James Version rendering of two different Greek phrases, σπουδαιÌως, spoudaıÌoÌ„s, found in ; and ἐν ἐκτενειÌα, en ekteneıÌa, in . In both cases the American Standard Revised Version renders “earnestly.â€