Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Urgent, -eant, adj. [e.m.E. urgent (1496), F. urgent (15th c.), L. urgent-.]

1. Of circumstances: Pressing, requiring prompt action to put right or expedite, freq., urgent necessity. 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 331.
The sade Williame is bundin … neuer to disheres forther than is forsaide bot for urgent necessite to be considerit at the sycht of the said James 1531 Bell. Boece I xii.
With doloure schame and urgent poverte 1545 Rec. Earld. Orkney 228.
Thre pundis usuall money … payt to me … and my spous in our gret mister and urgent necessite 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II 101.
Sowmes of money gevin … to … Andro, and Besse, … in to thair extreme vrgeant necessite 1562-3 Winȝet I 4/22.
War not the vrgent schortnes of tyme and imminent dainger of deth afore our eis 1594 Aberd. B. Rec. II 97.
Provissioun … agane the baptisme of the prince … and for vtheris his maiesties vrgent and weychtie effairis 1640 Mouswald Kirk S. 1 July.
None shall goe from thair awin kirk to any other upon the Lordis Day under the paine foirsaid except they have some urgent necessitie and resonable excuse

2. Of feelings: Compelling, overwhelming. 1533 Boece 80b.
Nobill wemen in womanly rage be vrgent extreme myserie be violent dede inferrit be thare awin handis evadit ignomynyos and vile seruitute 1558–9 St. A. Kirk S. 18.
Give thei be vexed … with … urgent appetites of the flesche c1590 J. Stewart 47/140.
The langsum labor, and the vrgent paine Quhilk he susteind in stormie vind and raine

3. Of events: Oppressive, unendurable. 1533 Boece 286b.
The invasioun of Saxons was sa vrgent and cruell … that on nede Ambrois was contrinit recounter Saxouns before … Scottis [etc.]