ótimo

Átimo is a noun in Portuguese that denotes a very brief moment or instant. It is used especially in literary or formal contexts, appearing in expressions such as em um átimo or num átimo to indicate that something occurred in a fraction of a second.

Origin and usage: The exact etymology of átimo is not clearly documented. It is a native Portuguese term with a semantic focus on brevity of time. In contemporary use, it can carry a slightly archaic or literary nuance, and is more common in written language than in casual speech. The masculine form is átimo, and the plural átimos exists but is rare.

Connotations and style: Átimo emphasizes the brevity of duration, in contrast to words like instante or momento, which refer more to a point in time. It remains understood across Portuguese-speaking communities, including both Portugal and Brazil, and is recognized in standard dictionaries.

Examples: Em um átimo, a decisão foi tomada. Ele respondeu num átimo de segundo.

See also: Instante, Momento, Breve duração.