proximate

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

closest in degree or order (space or time) especially in a chain of causes and effects“news of his proximate arrival”“interest in proximate rather than ultimate goals”
very close in space or time“proximate words”“proximate houses”

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Proximate \Prox"i*mate\, a. [L. proximatus, p. p. of proximare to come near, to approach, fr. proximus the nearest, nest, superl. of propior nearer, and prope, adv., near.] Nearest; next immediately preceding or following. "Proximate ancestors." --J. S. Harford. [1913 Webster]

The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]. --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

Proximate analysis (Chem.), an analysis which determines the proximate principles of any substance, as contrasted with an ultimate analysis.

Proximate cause. (a) A cause which immediately precedes and produces the effect, as distinguished from the remote, mediate, or predisposing cause. --I. Watts. (b) That which in ordinary natural sequence produces a specific result, no independent disturbing agencies intervening.

Proximate principle (Physiol. Chem.), one of a class of bodies existing ready formed in animal and vegetable tissues, and separable by chemical analysis, as albumin, sugar, collagen, fat, etc. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Nearest; next; closest; immediate; direct. [1913 Webster]

Analysis \A*nal"y*sis\, n.; pl. Analyses. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to unloose, to dissolve, to resolve into its elements; ? up + ? to loose. See Loose.]

1.A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses or of the intellect, into its constituent or original elements; an examination of the component parts of a subject, each separately, as the words which compose a sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions which enter into an argument. It is opposed to synthesis. [1913 Webster]

2.(Chem.) The separation of a compound substance, by chemical processes, into its constituents, with a view to ascertain either (a) what elements it contains, or (b) how much of each element is present. The former is called qualitative, and the latter quantitative analysis. [1913 Webster]

3.(Logic) The tracing of things to their source, and the resolving of knowledge into its original principles. [1913 Webster]

4.(Math.) The resolving of problems by reducing the conditions that are in them to equations. [1913 Webster]

5. (a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a discourse, disposed in their natural order. (b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of a science. In this sense it is nearly synonymous with synopsis. [1913 Webster]

6.(Nat. Hist.) The process of ascertaining the name of a species, or its place in a system of classification, by means of an analytical table or key. [1913 Webster]

Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Volumetric analysis. (Chem.) See under Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, etc. [1913 Webster]