▪ I. ˈurging, vbl. n.
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb; an instance of this.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 359 Her vrging of her wracke at sea. 1615 Hieron Wks. I. 606 It is by such vrgings as this, which..it pleaseth Him to make effectuall. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxv. 133 [It] is manifest enough, by the long and vehement urging. 1721 Bailey, Importunity, an eager pressing or urging. 1838 Lytton Alice x. iv, After repeated conferences and urgings. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xlv, A painful urging of something vague and difficult. 1897 Rhoscomyl White Rose Arno 82 One whose vigorous urgings to immediate action had [etc.]. |
▪ II. ˈurging, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. That serves as a motive or impelling cause; that constrains, or actuates; inciting, spurring, stimulating, strongly prompting; compelling.
| 1612 Selden Illustr. Drayton's Poly-olb. vi. 106 If it be the same with Lyra, as some think, although urging reason and authority are to the contrary. 1668 Owen Indwell. Sin ii. 16 It is..an inbred, working, impelling, urging Law. 1678 Dryden Limberham i. i, How stand thy Affections to her, thou lusty Rogue? Wood. All o'fire: A most urging Creature! 1723 Pres. St. Russia II. 273 Causes..weighty and urging enough for Russia to begin a War. 1728 Swift Let. to Abp. of Dublin ¶22 We shall..sacrifice all honesty to the present urging advantage. 1802 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Isl. Innocence 63 The sportive fry,..leaping oft as urging hunger calls, Meet the dropp'd crumb. 1870 Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1871) 322 It is a useful urging force. |
b. dial. Of words: Taunting, irritating.
| 1655 N. Riding Rec. (1887) V. 191 A Sumersides yeoman [tried] for giving scandallous, urginge and provoking words. |
c. Strongly operative or active.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iii. 43 How slender a masse will remain upon an open and urging Fire of the carnall composition. |
† 2. Characterized by urgency; urgent. Obs.
| 1647 Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. I. 49 It would be very easie, this urging necessity once past, to moderate..the..power of the Duke of Guise. 1683 Howe Union among Prot. Wks. 1863 IV. 261 The case was at that time urging and important. 1683 Kennett Erasm. on Folly 150 If at any time some urging occasions require them to become entangled in secular affairs. |
Hence ˈurgingly adv.
| c 1882 ‘Mark Twain’ Speeches (1923) 104, I say it beseechingly, urgingly. 1893 Temple Bar XCVII. 524 She instinctively and urgingly clapped her hands to a faster tune. |