I've never had exactly the sort of epiphanous "aha!" experience you describe, paddymac, but at one time I did suddenly realize that "immediately" meant "without something medial" (i.e. in-between). Does that count?

I hope it's not too off topic to say this:

If you tumbled down a hillside or a flight of stairs, my grandmother would describe you as falling "ass over teakettle" and I have always wondered about the source of that curious expression.

Alex
O..O
=o=