Definition

1. Adverb:
   • For a very brief period; for a moment: Occurring or lasting only for an instant.
   • (Archaic) At any moment; from moment to moment; continually: Imminent or happening at any instant.

Usage

• The primary modern usage describes something happening for a fleeting instant.
• The archaic usage describes something happening imminently or continuously.

Examples

• Modern usage (for an instant):
  • The sun emerged momently from behind the clouds before disappearing again.
  • He hesitated momently, considering his next words carefully.
• Archaic usage (at any moment/imminently):
  • The courier is expected momently. (Meaning the courier could arrive at any second.)

Advanced Usage

• "momently expected": An archaic or literary phrase meaning something is anticipated to happen very soon, imminently.
  • The king's arrival was momently expected by the gathered crowd.

Variants and Related Words

• Momentary (adj): Lasting for a very short time.
  • He felt a momentary pang of regret.
• Momentarily (adv): For a very short time; (in some contexts, especially US English) very soon.
  • The plane will land momentarily. (This can mean either "for a brief moment" or "very soon," leading to potential ambiguity.)

Synonyms

• Briefly: For a short time.
• Transiently: Lasting only for a short time; impermanent.
• Fleetingly: For a very brief time.
• (For archaic sense) Imminently: About to happen.

Notes on Usage

• "Momently" is now rare in modern English. "Momentarily" is far more common, though it can be ambiguous.
• When precision is needed to mean "for a moment," phrases like "for a moment" or "briefly" are often clearer choices than "momently."

Adverb

1. at any moment
   • she will be with you momently
2. for an instant or moment
   • we paused momentarily before proceeding
   • a cardinal perched momently on the dogwood branch