Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - proximate

 adjective  Etymology: Latin proximatus, past participle of proximare to approach, from proximus nearest, next, superlative of prope near — more at approach  Date: 1661  1. immediately preceding or following (as in a chain of events, causes, or effects) ~, rather than ultimate, goals — Reinhold Niebuhr  2.  a. very near ; close  b. soon forthcoming ; imminent  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun