To make a momentous decision
Meaning
To choose a course of action that has significant, long-lasting, and often life-altering consequences.
Origin
The weight of a 'moment' once meant more than just a fleeting instant in time; it was a measure of significance, an 'impulse' or 'weight' in Old French, stemming from the Latin 'momentum.' This root spoke to movement, importance, and a critical turning point. As English evolved, 'moment' retained this dual sense, referring to both a brief period and an instant of great import. It wasn't until the 17th century that 'momentous' crystallized this latter meaning entirely, describing something of immense consequence. Thus, to 'make a momentous decision' is to craft a choice at an instant that carries significant gravity, a decision whose ripples will extend far beyond the present 'moment' into a future forever altered by its making.
Examples
- After years of contemplation, she knew it was time to make a momentous decision about her career path.
- The board gathered, acutely aware that they were about to make a momentous decision that would shape the company's future for decades.