In legal usage, “immediate” forms several compounds, based on its conventional definitions. But the immediate sense of the immediate works best when you describe events that have already occurred, especially simple cause-and-effect scenarios. For the regulation of behaviour – as for contracts – it is problematic because business obviously does not lend itself to immediate reactions. You should always consider what the circumstances allow. But what about the Morgan Guaranty case? This is the one mentioned at the top of this post – the one in which the court said it means quickly, not immediately, but within a reasonable time. Now, this is a case that was built quickly, not immediately, so that it has no real value as support for the proposal, which is immediately subject to no standard of reasonableness. The current edition of Black`s Law Dictionary does not include an entry for prompt, but the sixth edition, published in 1990, did, saying that the meaning of prompt “depends largely on the facts in each case, for what is `prompt` in one situation cannot be considered as such in other circumstances or conditions.” When writing a brief, a lawyer may use the expression “the present case” in relation to the case currently pending before the court to distinguish it from other cases under discussion. “It is impossible to establish an absolute rule as to the meaning of the word `immediate` in all cases. The words “immediately” and “immediately” have the same meaning. They are stronger than the phrase `within a reasonable time` and involve swift and vigorous action, and whether such action took place is a question of fact, having regard to the circumstances of the case. Cockburn, C.J., in Reg. Judge of Berkshire, 4 Q.B. Div.
471 And whatever you do, don`t immediately include both in a contract. This means inviting sharp-eyed litigators to argue for gradations of meaning where none was intended. Well, if you thought that, you`re in good company. For example, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York said it means quickly not immediately, but within a reasonable time. See Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York v. Bay View Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Co., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7572, p. *17 (N.D.N.Y.
23, 2002). These sample phrases are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “immediately.” The views expressed in the examples do not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. And immediately? The Oxford English Dictionary defines immediately: “Without delay or passage of time; immediate, direct, immediate; immediately. (Keep in mind that this immediately has other meanings, including “without intermediaries,” like the previous business day.) I hear you say: how is this possible? Here`s my opinion: In idiomatic usage, immediate can mean “immediately” – I didn`t hear what John said, but Matilda immediately turned around and walked away. On the other hand, prompt conveys the feeling that a little time is needed. Prompt can be used to mean “immediately”, but only if you are aiming for a slightly funny effect – I didn`t hear what John said, but Mathilde immediately turned around and walked away. So only in terms of dictionary definitions, immediately seems very similar invite. And this similarity becomes clearer when one examines the case law, which points out that, just as timely, it is immediately subject to a standard of reasonableness. Here are some representative cases: Fast – what`s the difference between fast and immediate? I bet what comes to mind is the idea that faster action is needed immediately, which happens immediately. On the other hand, it can also be used immediately, although some time would be needed – the US Navy immediately began work on a new aircraft carrier.
So, immediately conveys a meaning a little broader than prompt. Treaties and statute tribunals have repeatedly stated over the past two centuries that the word “immediately”, while strictly speaking excluding all incidents, should nevertheless be interpreted as “as expedient” as is reasonably necessary to make the case in order to redress the acts and intentions of the parties. Anno: 16 ALR 609.