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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Perem(p)to(u)r, a. and n. Also: perrempt-, paremptand -oure, -or(e, -ur(e; -oir; -er; peremttur. [F. péremptoire (13th c. in Littré), L. peremptōrius destructive, deadly, that puts an end to (something), decisive, esp. as a term of Roman Law: cf. F. exception péremptoire in Littré, med. L. dies peremptorius in Du Cange. Cf. also Peremptory a. and Peremptorie adv.] Peremptory, in various senses and applications.

I. In legal use.

1. adj. a. (The day, time, etc.) precisely specified for an appearance in court, fulfilment of an obligation, production of a warrant, etc., with no postponement permitted. b. (A court of law) on a precisely specified date at which the party concerned must appear. c. (A summons) that specifies the exact date on which the party must appear in court. d. Of an appearance in court: That has its date precisely specified, with no postponement permitted. Also fig.Chiefly attrib. and most freq. in postposition.(1) 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
The schiref … sal lat thaim [malefactors] to borch til apper at the next iustice air as day peremptor 1398–9 Ib. 211/2.
Peremtor 14.. Quon. Att. c. 3.
Thai may haf four somoundis til a day peremptor that is to wyt of xl days 1495 Liber Aberbr. II. 290.
That day as day peremptour set to bath the parteis(2) 1478 Acta Conc. I. 19/1.
The lordis assignis … the xx day of Januar next tocum … as peremptur day to preif [etc.] 1489–90 Acta Aud. 139/1.
Lord Olyphant failȝeit in his preif at the peremptour day assignit therto 1494 Loutfut MS. 110 a.
[He] deliueris it … to ane officiar of armes to keip sover wnopinnit quhill thair peremptour day Ib. 111 a. 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 138.
At twa efternoun one the set and peremtor day 1539 Coll. Rebus Alban. 28.
That ye direct lettres upoun the said Donald … till an peremptour day 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 141.
That the dekynnis of craftis set ane peremptour day for chesing of thair dekynnis 1564–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 121.
In sa far as this day is ane peremptour day to the rest of the airis of Tuait 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 47.
The peremptore day whairof being expyred [etc.] 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III. 321. a1586 Lindsay MS. 7 b.
Perempture 1586 Inverness Rec. I. 305.
To summond the assysaris … to compeir at sic peremptour day as [etc.] 1628 Justiciary Cases I. 87.
Peremptour 1669 Salmon Borrowstounness 85.
At the peremptor day and houre 1670 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 195.
For ther is a perempter day the first of Junij assigned to me(3) 1568–9 Rec. Earld. Orkney 126.
And that day to be peremptour and last dyat 1596–7 Coll. Aberd. & B. 387.
Alexander Fraser … having cum fra Aberdene fra sum peremptor dyatt thair betuixt the Erle of Erroll and the Erle Merschell 1640 Maister George Blacke His Masterlesse Men 8.
Least we should have lost the peremptor dyet of compearance before the lords of his majesties Secret Council 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 327.
To call … the said Thomas … befoir ws … at ane paremptour dyett for exhibiting the samen [etc.](4) 1514–5 Fife Sheriff Ct. 9.
As terme peremptour but ony langer dilay or excusacione 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 204 a.
To bryng thare … evydentis agane that daye as to terme peremtovre 1533 Bell. Livy I. 225/22.
Becaus thai saw the houre peremptoure nere ourepast and thare tribune nocht compere 1547 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 249.
That it suld stand thame for ane terme peremptour — 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 11 Mar.
Becaus he allegit thar was ane peremptor term assignit to the said Schir Jhone of befoir to preif possession 1579–80 Rec. Earld. Orkney 151.(5) 1492 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 63.
That the said court peremptour of xxj dayes be obseruitt [etc.] 1524 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 389.
To this cowrt peremptour as to the last cowrt of his proces resplatit and continewit fra the ferd cowrt 1563–4 Prestwick B. Rec. 68.
The sad prolocutouris … to kep the vij day of Februar as court peremtour 1564 Peebles B. Rec. I. 297.
Thair salbe ane condampnattur geffin at the court peremttur gef the pairte compeir not 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 399.
And becummis ilkane of us for oure awin part souirtie thairfor to the secund air or court peremptour 1582 Ib. III. 503.
His court of justiciarie to be haldin … as secund court peremptoure to all personis … not comperand — 1561 Peebles B. Rec. I. 275.
To call thame to ane peremptour court and deprive thame of thair liberte(6) 1457–8 Acts II. 48/1.
Gif ony persounis has ony acciounis to folow he sall warne thame to pas to the kingis chapell and rais summondis peremptour apone xl dais 1622-6 Bisset I. 139/19.
In al summonis peremptour of all actionis c1630 Hope Minor Pract. . § 8 (1734) 9.
All actions before the lords have their diets of compearance with continuation of days and are not peremptor, as they are before inferior judges(7) 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 540.
In respect … that the samyn day wes peremptour thay hopit na forder sould have procedit aganis thame without new warning 1596 Crim. Trials I. ii. 381.
Na continewatioun … becaus all justice courtis ar peremptour 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. iii.
This secund summons is peremptour 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 220.
The dyet is peremptour whiche if once slipped cannot be regained 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 115.
The recomendatione to the exchequer wilbe peremptor 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. vi. 1 (1699) 187.
Because all dyets here are peremptor and not with continuation of days

2. Said of a legal plea which, if accepted, precludes further debate or question, so quashing the action.Also, with plur. inflection.For further instances, see Declinatour a. and Dilatour a. 1.(1) 1458 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 325 (see Dilatour a. 1). 1503 Acts II. 246/1.
Quhare ony dume is falsit other apone dylatoure or peremptour exceptione or otherwais 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 28 Jan. (see 3 (3) below). 1572–3 Canongate Ct. Bk. 430.
In the terme assignit to Jonet Downy to preve hir exceptioun peremptour proponit be hir in the actioun … persewit … aganis hir c1575 Balfour Pract. 343.
Peremptour exceptiounis ar perpetual because thay stay allutterlie and for ever cuttis away the actioun or clame and resistis and stoppis the samin at all times 1575 Dunferm. B. Rec. in Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 35.
To prief his exception peremptour proponit be him aganis the clame of Johne Hucheon 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 56. 1617 Crim. Trials III. 423.
The pannell proponit dyuerse exceptiones dilatour and peremptour 1622-6 Bisset I. 182/2.
Ane peremptoure exceptioun … lauchfullie provin causis the proponer thairof to be perpetuallie and simpliciter absolved Ib. 286/8.
Gif the dome makis with the pairtie be resson of ane peremptoure exceptioun the haill action makis with himplur. 1559 Admir. Ct. Bk. 124.
Alexander King … denyit the thrid and secund exceptionis peremptouris(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 88.
They [sc. Papists] make their last refuge to an peremptour defence in their opinion 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 91. 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I. .
Replied. The pursuer takes instruments on the defender's proponing this which is a peremptor defence as a downright confession and acknowledgment of the passive titlesplur. 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 167.
To propone all his defenssis peremptouris and dilatouris quhilkis thai will use 1573–4 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 256.(3) c1575 Balfour Pract. 354.
The persewar sould have thre termis … for probatioun of ony peremptour reply aganis him notwithstanding that ane term allanerlie is gevin to the defendar for preiving of a peremptour exceptioun

3. ellipt. in senses 1 and 2, passing into noun.Day of peremptour = 1 a above.(1) 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 18.
Wilyam of Cokburne … folowit a borch apon John Wilsone … as the third court and to entir at the next [court] as peremtour 1492 Ib. 32.
Wilyam Stewart … borowit Jamys Bosuell to the hed of Yul as peremptour and to ansuer to Johne Wilsone claym 1502 Prot. Bk. J. Foular (S.R.S.) I. i. 170.
This day as peremptour assignit for this lining 1548 Perth Guildry 257 (14 May).
William Drummond hes tane to preif sufficientlie the schipping of tua barrallis irne … the [27th] day of Maij instant as peremptour 1587 Acts III. 461/2.
The first day of euerie moneth in the ȝeir … salbe a speciale and peremptour for his privie counsall to convene and sitt(2) c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 5 b.
Apoune the ferde day he [the party defendand] mon other send essonȝe him lauchfully or than it is day of peremptour 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 52.
The schireff assignit the thrid day of July … as day of peremptour for ane finall decret decisioun and end [etc.](3) 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 28 Jan.
Master Ihone proponit ane peremptor exception aganis the samyn and askit … ane day to qualifie all his peremptoris in wryting c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5770.
That day sall pas be peremptoris Without cawteill or dilatoris 1558–9 Admir. Ct. Bk. 83.
In the terme assignit to him to preif his peremptour 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 5 a.
And siclyk thre peremptouris or replyis being anes proponit be toung or gevin in be writ … sall nocht be lesum to the pairteis to mend 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 30.
Howsoewer it fall ye neid not to tak cair so the peremptore be weill handled 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 22 Feb.
Conforme to the perempter proponit be him quhair he allegit solutioun of payment maid of befoir 1622-6 Bisset II. 75/29.
Litiscontestatioun is be admitting or repelling of ane peremptoure c1630 Hope Minor Pract. i. § 22 (1734) 30.
In the order of proponing exceptions the dilators should be proponed before the peremptors Id. Major Pract. II. 250.
Found that efter litiscontestation (i.e. quhen the defender hes proponed ane peremptor quhilk is admitted and found relevant) the persewar may not pas from that instance albeit na terme be taken for probatione therof 1679 Fountainhall Decis. I. 32.
To propone a dilator after a peremptor which is against all form 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 39.

II. In other uses.

4. adj. Of non-material things: Conclusive, decisive; final.Chiefly attrib. 1549 Compl. 6/34.
I vas … timide for falt of ane peremptoir conclusione I nocht heffand ane perfyte determinatione of quhat purpos or mater that var maist necessair ande honest 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vii.
The next point of their personall funerals was their peremptor preparation to the graue consisting in two ceremonies 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 82.
Take heed what you doe at this peremptor time 1626 Garden Worthies 116.
Harlaw and Brechen … Feights famous perremptor and perrillous c1650 Spalding I. 276.
We hartlie desyre … a peremptour present ansuer of bon-accord or mal-accord 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 207.
Anguis upon some emergent weighty and peremptor went over to Ireland

5. Of persons, also of their actions or statements: a. Imperious; dictatorial; insisting on obedience or compliance.(1) 1630 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 261.
Ye ar too paremptur 1676 Welsh Gospel Summonds 23.
For we are sent to be peremptor with you this day 1701 Fugitive Poetry II. xlv. 5/119.
Sometimes he may be too peremptor [: center] — c 1671 Lauder Jrnl. 215.
He was a most peremptor man to his inferiors … but a slavish fearer of any whom [etc.](2) 1644 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 439.
The letter of our parliament … in high and peremptor terms 1669 Jus Populi 49.
A peremptour telling of the King … that he should not get his will 1673 Certainty of Death and Judgement (1673) 4.
All flesh shall be under a peremptor trumpets summond to appear at once 1691 Farther Vindic. 20.
The messages of the prophets … sometimes were very sad and peremptor

b. Resolute (to do something, or in or for something); determined. c. Quite certain, positive.Only pred.b. 1638 Baillie I. 62.
They seem peremptor to have a minister conjunct with him Ib. 105.
I fand them peremptor for the equity of subscryving the King's covenant 1641 Ib. 359; Ib. 379, etc. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 578.
If it be asked to what time this relateth … we will not be peremptor to determine 1663 Hist. Fam. Seton 661.
Since it is the principall signed treatie I would be the more peremtor in it 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 192.
We wer so peremptor as not to give an indemnity to the governour 1695 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 12 July.
Thomas Wells … is peremptor in refuseing to attend the sessionc. 1700 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 24.
Through the intervall of time she could not be peremptor as to particulars

6 absol. as noun. At one's peremptors, ? forced to take immediate or hasty decisions. c1705 Nimmo Narr. 17.
But yet the difficulties of Parke's affaires … made me oft at my peremptors how to guid