immanent

[ im-uh-nuhnt ]

adjective

1. remaining within; indwelling; inherent.

   Synonyms: intrinsic, inborn, innate

   Antonyms: superimposed, extrinsic

2. Philosophy. (of a mental act) taking place within the mind of the subject and having no effect outside of it. Compare transeunt.
3. Theology. (of the Deity) indwelling the universe, time, etc. Compare transcendent ( def 3 ).

immanent

/ ˈɪmənənt /

adjective

1. existing, operating, or remaining within; inherent
2. See transcendent
   of or relating to the pantheistic conception of God, as being present throughout the universe Compare transcendent

Derived Forms

• ˈimmanently, adverb
• ˈimmanence, noun

Other Words From

• im·ma·nence [im, -, uh, -n, uh, ns], im·ma·nen·cy [im, -, uh, -n, uh, n-see], noun
• im·ma·nent·ly adverb
• non·im·ma·nent adjective
• non·im·ma·nent·ly adverb
• un·im·ma·nent adjective
• un·im·ma·nent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of immanent¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin immanent- (stem of immanēns ), present participle of immanēre “to stay in,” equivalent to im- “in” ( im- ¹ ) + man(ēre) “to stay” + -ent- adjective suffix ( -ent ); remain

Word History and Origins

Origin of immanent¹

C16: from Latin immanēre to remain in, from im- (in) + manēre to stay

Example Sentences

They need God to feel immanent, nearly material like a Greek deity, while we need God to be thought ineffable and mysterious.

From The Daily Beast

And yet there was a likeness, not so much speaking as immanent, not so much in any particular feature as upon the whole.

From Project Gutenberg

Through its immanent psychical power it is to exercise magical coercion over the soul of the god or the saint.

From Project Gutenberg

The development, moreover, is not immanent in religion; it is the result of external causes.

From Project Gutenberg

This entire social complex has been subsumed under the principle that law is immanent in all history.

From Project Gutenberg

The spiritual life is thus individual and over-individual, historical and over-historical, transcendent and immanent.

From Project Gutenberg