Instant he flew with hospitable haste.
Pope.
In"stant, n. [F. instant, fr. L. instans standing by, being near,
present. See Instant, a.]
1. A point in duration; a moment; a portion of time too short to be
estimated; also, any particular moment.
There is scarce an instant between their flourishing and their not
being.
Hooker.
2. A day of the present or current month; as, the sixth instant; -- an
elliptical expression equivalent to the sixth of the month instant, i.
e., the current month. See Instant, a., 3.
Syn. -- Moment; flash; second.
In*stan`ta*ne"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. instantanéité.] Quality of being
instantaneous. Shenstone.