Peremptory
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /pəˈɹɛmptəɹi/
Origin
From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin peremptÅrius ("deadly; decisive"), from perimÅ ("").
Full definition of peremptory
Adjective
peremptory
- (legal) Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final. from 15th c.
- 1596, Francis Bacon, Maxims of the Law, II: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.
- Positive in opinion or judgment; absolutely certain, overconfident, unwilling to hear any debate or argument (especially in a pejorative sense); dogmatic. from 16th c.
- 2003, Andrew Marr, The Guardian, 6 Jan 03: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."
- (obsolete) Firmly determined, resolute; obstinate, stubborn. 16th-18th c.
- Accepting no refusal or disagreement; imperious, dictatorial. from 17th c.
- Fitzgerald Gatsby|I... 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.
- 1999, Anthony Howard, The Guardian, 2 Jan 99:Though today (surveying that yellowing document) I shudder at the peremptory tone of the instructions I gave, Alastair - in that same volume in which I get chastised for my coverage of the Macmillan rally - was generous enough to remark that my memorandum became 'an office classic'.