imméDIATES

Immédiates is a plural form derived from the French adjective immédiat, meaning immediate or direct. In English, the term is uncommon outside of bilingual or specialized texts, and when it appears it may function as a borrowed noun or as part of a phrase rather than as standard English vocabulary. In such contexts, immediates can be used loosely to refer to people or things that are immediate—closest in relation, time, or sequence—or to actions or events that are direct or urgent. The usage is not standardized and often depends on the surrounding text.

Etymology and forms: The word comes from Old French immediat and Latin immediatus, both conveying directness or lack of mediation. In French, imméDIATES is the feminine plural form of immediat, agreeing with feminine or plural nouns. In English, the form is mostly encountered as a loaned plural or within bilingual discourse rather than as a common generic noun.

Usage and contexts: In historical, legal, or genealogical writing, immediates may appear as a shorthand for the closest relatives or next-of-kin, though this usage varies by jurisdiction and is not universal legal terminology. In general prose, it is clearer to use phrases such as immediate relatives or immediate family. When discussing direct or urgent matters, prefer adjectives like immediate or immediacy rather than the bare plural form.

See also: immediacy, immediate, immediate family, close relatives.