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From Old French moment, from Latin momentum.

Full definition of moment

(plural moments)

A brief, unspecified amount of time.
Wait a moment, while I lock the front door.

1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 5, Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,..., and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.
1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 6, Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's.
2013-06-14, Sam Leith, Where the profound meets the profane, Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language â€“ "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.

1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

1597, William Shakespeare, Richard III, 3,7,67:In deep designs, in matter of great moment,
No less importing than our general good.
1904, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Second Stain, (Norton 2005, p.1192)The document in question is of such immense importance that its publication might very easily â€“ I might almost say probably â€“ lead to European complications of the utmost moment.

(physics, mechanics) The turning effect of a force applied to a rotational system at a distance from the axis of rotation. Also called moment of force.
(historical) A definite period of time, specifically one-tenth of a point, or one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of an hour.
(informal) A petit mal episode; such a spell.
(colloquial) A fit, a short-duration tantrum, a hissy.
(math) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.