urgent, a.
(ˈɜːdʒənt)
[a. F. urgent (14th c.), a. L. urgent-, urgens, pres. pple. of urgēre to urge. Cf. It., Sp., Pg. urgente.]
I. 1. Pressing, impelling; demanding or calling for prompt action; marked or characterized by urgency. (Freq. from c 1800.)
In earliest use with cause or necessity.
| 1496 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 515/1 Towarde the..mayntenaunce of the Armye aforsaid, and urgent causes concernyng the same. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 162 b, But onely whan cause vrgent, & very necessite compelleth. 1558 Bp. Watson Sev. Sacram. xix. 119 Where the Sacrament is excluded by vrgent necessitye. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. iv, The more I stirre about urgent affaires. 1604 Thornborough Discovrse (title-p.), The euident vtilitie and vrgent necessitie of the desired happie Vnion. 1660 Milton Free Commw. Wks. 1851 V. 451 To the retarding..oft times of thir Counsels or urgentest occasions. 1676–7 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 521 The true remedy of the urgent condition of this poore Nation. 1712 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 25 Feb., I have no urgent business upon my hands. 1755 Young Centaur vi. Wks. 1757 IV. 282 With only this additional, and still more urgent,..motive for reformation. 1772 W. Buchan Dom. Med. (ed. 2) 278 Unless these symptoms are urgent, it is safer to let it alone. 1816 J. Scott Paris Revisit. (ed. 3) 117 They were soon forced to separate to attend to their respective urgent duties. 1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xx. 239 What may be done by simple means in relieving an urgent disease. 1866 Rogers Agric. & Prices I. xxi. 528 The necessity not being so urgent as it is now. |
b. Of commands, messages, etc., by which a matter is strongly pressed upon a person's attention.
| 1611 Bible Dan. iii. 22 The Kings commandement was vrgent. 1779 Mirror No. 32, The remonstrances of his man of business, aided by very urgent requests from me. 1816 Bentham Chrestom. 262 Other objects, for the illustration of which the demand..is accordingly still more urgent. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. iv. 205 This summons was as urgent as words can describe. 1883 O. W. Holmes Pages fr. Old Vol. Life 63 A second telegraphic message..so direct and urgent that I should be sure of an answer to it. 1886 Baring-Gould Court Royal xxxviii, ‘Papa,’ said Lady Grace in urgent tones. |
2. Of a feeling, etc.: That constrains, impels, or prompts. Also const. of.
| 1559 Reg. St. Andrews Kirk Session (S.H.S.) I. 18 Giue thei be vexed and urnet with ustioun and urgent appetites of the flesche. 1566 Drant Hor., Sat. ii. i. E vij b, Yf I haue suche vrgent luste, and lykyng to indite. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. i. vii, The miseries of Ireland are urgent of a speedy redress. 1748 G. White Serm. (MS.), If people will not follow nature in her most urgent affections, and importunate Requests. 1873 Morley Rousseau (1905) II. 34 When men are beginning to feel the urgent spirit of a new time. |
3. Of persons: Pressingly solicitous; importunate, insistent. Also with preps., as for, in, on, † unto.
| 1548 Elyot, Premo,..premere,..to be vrgent or instante vpon. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Premo, I was not more vrgent or instant on any pointe, then, &c. a 1593 Marlowe & Nashe Dido iii. i, All these..Haue been most vrgent suiters for my loue. 1611 Bible Exod. xii. 33 The Egyptians were vrgent vpon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste. 1698 Collier Immor. Stage 107 Oedipus is..Urgent for an account of Particulars. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. x. 355 The officers of his fleet were urgent in offering their services. 1778 F. Burney Evelina ii, The advice and entreaties of all his friends, among whom I was myself the most urgent. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 149 His family have been very urgent for him to make an expedition to Margate. 1883 Law Times 20 Oct. 408/1 The public and the Profession were alike urgent in calling for sweeping reforms. |
b. Eagerly desirous to do something.
| 1753–4 Richardson Grandison II. xxviii. 227, I never knew him to be so very urgent to know my heart. 1798 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 181 [It] made him..urgent to set out for England. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds xxxiv. 302 Mr. Loopy..had been calling, urgent to see me. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. 243 He is very urgent to see him. |
II. 4. Impelling, pressing, or bearing onwards.
| 1546 Yorks. Chantry Surv. (Surtees) 209 When as the waters of Rothere and Downe are so urgent, that the curate of Rotherham cannot to them repayre. 1876 R. Bridges Growth of Love v, Her launched passion when she sings Wins on the hearing like a shapen prow Borne by the mastery of its urgent wings. 1879 ― A Passer-by i, Whither, O splendid ship, thy white sails crowding, Leaning across the bosom of the urgent West. |
† 5. Oppressive; severe; heavy. Obs.
| 1545 Brinklow Compl. ii. 10 b, An vrgent dammage to the common welth. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. III. 49 During the two houres of those two dayes the heat is very vrgent. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. ii. 187 Not alone The death of Fuluia, with more vrgent touches, Do strongly speake to vs. a 1699 J. Beaumont Psyche iii. 147 Which Jesus seeing, He upon him threw The urgent yoak of an express Injunction. |
† 6. Of time: Pressing; passing quickly. Obs.
| 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 465 Please your Highnesse To take the vrgent houre. 1791 Cowper Iliad i. 74 But time is urgent; haste we to consult Priest, prophet, or interpreter of dreams. |
Hence ˈurgentness, urgency. rare.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 25 The vrgentnesse of the cause doeth deepely require it. 1727 Bailey (vol. II), Pressingness, Urgentness. |
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Add: [I.] [1.] c. quasi-adv. In the superlative form urgentest (Telegraphese), as urgently as possible. Cf. soonest s.v. soon adv. 14 a.
| 1969 N. Freeling Tsing-Boum viii. 50 Pray send urgentest all known. 1981 ‘W. Haggard’ Money Men iii. 37 You should report to me urgentest, if necessary on an open line. |