proximate

English

Etymology

From Late Latin proximatus, past participle of proximare (“to draw near, approach”), from Latin proximus (“nearest”), superlative of prope (“near”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒk.sɪ.mət/

  • Audio

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑk.sə.mət/, /ˈpɹɑk.sɪ.mət/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɔk.sɪ.mət/

Adjective

proximate (not comparable)

1. Close or closest; adjacent.
   • 1681, Thomas Burnet, “The Deluge and Dissolution of the Earth”, in The Theory of the Earth, 3rd edition, London: R. N[orton], translation of Telluris Theoria Sacra, published 1697, page 73:

     And writing a Theory of the Deluge here, as we do, we were to exhibit a Series of causes whereby it might be made intelligible, or to shew^[sic] the proximate Natural Causes of it; […]

   • 1857, John Scandrett Harford, The Life of Michael Angelo Buonarroti, 2nd edition, London: Longman & Roberts, published 1858, page 154:

     […] the basis of a reformed constitution was laid, by the appointment of a grand council, consisting of all such citizens as could prove that their proximate ancestors had shared in the offices or honours of the state.

   • 2019 March 11, Nick Kotsopoulos, quoting John Kelly, “Worcester plan aims to stop owners from paving front lawns”, in Worcester Telegram‎^[1]:

     The proposed changes recognize that adequate off-street parking is an important, and often challenging, issue in many residential neighborhoods, and attempt to balance the need for off-street parking with appropriate limitations, especially in areas visible from the street or proximate to neighboring properties.

2. (law) Immediately preceding or following in a chain of causation.
3. About to take place; impending.

Synonyms

• (close): near, nigh; see also Thesaurus:near
• (about to take place): imminent, in the offing, pending; see also Thesaurus:impending

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “close”): distant, far; see also Thesaurus:distant
• (antonym(s) of “w.r.t. causes”): ultimate

Derived terms

• proximate cause
• proximate principle
• proximately

Translations

close or closest; adjacent

• Bulgarian: най-близък (naj-blizǎk)
• Danish: nær
• Interlingua: proxime
• Russian: ближа́йший (ru) (bližájšij), сме́жный (ru) (sméžnyj) (adjacent)

Noun

proximate (plural proximates)

1. (linguistics) A grammatical marker that distinguishes a relatively salient referent in a given context from a relatively non-salient (obviative) one.

Related terms

• approximate
• approximation
• approximator
• proximity

See also

• obviative

Further reading

• “proximate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “proximate”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Latin

Verb

proximāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of proximō