peremptory

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin peremptōrius (“deadly; decisive”), from perimō (“destroy”), from per- (“thorough”) + emō (“I take, I acquire”).

adj

  1. (law) Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal
    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. 1596, Francis Bacon, Maxims of the Law, section II
  2. Positive in opinion or judgment; absolutely certain, overconfident, unwilling to hear any debate or argument (especially in a pejorative sense); dogmatic.
    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." 2003, Andrew Marr, The Guardian, 6 Jan 03
  3. (obsolete) Firmly determined, resolute; obstinate, stubborn.
  4. Accepting no refusal or disagreement; imperious, dictatorial.
    Upon the other hand, there are a great many people who, having no private property of their own, and being always on the brink of sheer starvation, are compelled to do the work of beasts of burden, to do work that is quite uncongenial to them, and to which they are forced by the peremptory, unreasonable, degrading Tyranny of want. 1891, Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism
    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'. 2 Jan 1999, Anthony Howard, The Guardian, section 99

noun

  1. (law) A challenge to the admission of a juror, without the challenger needing to show good cause.
    Each side was allowed 20 peremptories, and the prosecution used 18 of its allotment. 2015 June 18, Justice Alito, Davis v. Ayala, Case No. 13-1428

Attribution / Disclaimer All definitions come directly from Wiktionary using the Wiktextract library. We do not edit or curate the definitions for any words, if you feel the definition listed is incorrect or offensive please suggest modifications directly to the source (wiktionary/peremptory), any changes made to the source will update on this page periodically.