imminent
UK[ˈɪmɪnənt]US[ˈɪmɪnənt]
adj
(especially of something unpleasant) about to happen
Etymology
The word 'imminent' originates from the Latin verb 'imminēre', meaning 'to overhang, project towards, or threaten'. This verb itself is composed of the prefix 'in-' (here meaning 'upon') and 'minēre', a form related to 'mināri' ('to threaten') and 'mōns' ('mountain'), suggesting the literal image of something, like a mountain or a cliff, jutting out or hanging over. The core semantic thread evolved from the physical sense of something looming overhead to the abstract sense of a threatening event about to occur. This conceptual shift from a spatial, physical overhang to a temporal, abstract threat is a classic example of metaphorical extension in language evolution.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It entered English as a whole from the Latin present participle 'imminēns, imminent-', meaning 'overhanging, impending'.
Examples
The dark clouds suggested that a storm was imminent.
Faced with imminent danger, they evacuated the building immediately.
There is a sense of imminent change in the company's leadership.