a. [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, Discourse (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. Lediard, Sethos, II. x. 355. The officers of his fleet were urgent in offering their services.
1778. Miss 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., 11. 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. Mrs. 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. Ibid. (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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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 Urgentness, urgency. rare.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 25. The vrgentnesse of the cause doeth deepely require it.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Pressingness, Urgentness.
