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peremptory

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L314081 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /pəˈɹɛmptəɹi/

adj

Etymology: From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin peremptōrius (“deadly; precluding debate, decisive”), from perimō (“destroy, thwart”), from per- (“thorough”) + emō (“to obtain, buy”).

  1. Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal.

    there is no reason but if any of the outlawries be indeed without error, but it should be a peremptory plea to the person in a writ of error, as well as in any other action.

  2. Of a date or deadline, absolutely requiring compliance or attendance; brooking no further delay; proceeding whether a party attends or not; final.

    As this trial has now been postponed multiple times, there will be an adjournment to April 24, peremptory on the parties.

  3. Positive in opinion or judgment; absolutely certain, overconfident, unwilling to hear any debate or argument (especially in a pejorative sense); dogmatic.

    He marched under a placard reading "End Bossiness Now" but decided it was a little too peremptory, not quite British, so changed the slogan on subsequent badges, to "End Bossiness Soon."

  4. Firmly determined, resolute; obstinate, stubborn.
  5. Accepting no refusal or disagreement; imperious, dictatorial.

    Upon the other hand, there are a great many people who, having no private property of their own, and being always on the brink of sheer starvation, are compelled to do the work of beasts of burden, to do work that is quite uncongenial to them, and to which they are forced by the peremptory, unreasonable, degrading Tyranny of want.

    […] less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart.

noun

Etymology: From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin peremptōrius (“deadly; precluding debate, decisive”), from perimō (“destroy, thwart”), from per- (“thorough”) + emō (“to obtain, buy”).

  1. A challenge to the admission of a juror, without the challenger needing to show good cause.

    Each side was allowed 20 peremptories, and the prosecution used 18 of its allotment.