a. [ F. immédiat. See In- not, and Mediate. ] 1. Not separated in respect to place by anything intervening; proximate; close; as, immediate contact. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are the most immediate to our throne. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not deferred by an interval of time; present; instant. “Assemble we immediate council.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Death . . . not yet inflicted, as he feared,
By some immediate stroke. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Acting with nothing interposed or between, or without the intervention of another object as a cause, means, or agency; acting, perceived, or produced, directly; as, an immediate cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

The immediate knowledge of the past is therefore impossible. Sir. W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Immediate amputation (Surg.), an amputation performed within the first few hours after an injury, and before the the effects of the shock have passed away.

Syn. -- Proximate; close; direct; next. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In an immediate manner; without intervention of any other person or thing; proximately; directly; -- opposed to mediately; as, immediately contiguous. [ 1913 Webster ]

God's acceptance of it either immediately by himself, or mediately by the hands of the bishop. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without interval of time; without delay; promptly; instantly; at once. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Jesus . . . touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matt. viii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. As soon as. Cf. Directly, 8, Note.

Syn. -- Directly; instantly; quickly; forthwith; straightway; presently. See Directly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or relations of being immediate in manner, place, or time; exemption from second or interventing causes. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]