| 释义 |
urgent, a.|ˈɜːdʒənt|
[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.
1496Rolls of Parlt. VI. 515/1 Towarde the..mayntenaunce of the Armye aforsaid, and urgent causes concernyng the same. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 162 b, But onely whan cause vrgent, & very necessite compelleth. 1558Bp. Watson Sev. Sacram. xix. 119 Where the Sacrament is excluded by vrgent necessitye. a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. iv, The more I stirre about urgent affaires. 1604Thornborough Discovrse (title-p.), The euident vtilitie and vrgent necessitie of the desired happie Vnion. 1660Milton Free Commw. Wks. 1851 V. 451 To the retarding..oft times of thir Counsels or urgentest occasions. 1676–7Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 521 The true remedy of the urgent condition of this poore Nation. 1712Swift Jrnl. to Stella 25 Feb., I have no urgent business upon my hands. 1755Young Centaur vi. Wks. 1757 IV. 282 With only this additional, and still more urgent,..motive for reformation. 1772W. Buchan Dom. Med. (ed. 2) 278 Unless these symptoms are urgent, it is safer to let it alone. 1816J. Scott Paris Revisit. (ed. 3) 117 They were soon forced to separate to attend to their respective urgent duties. 1843R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. xx. 239 What may be done by simple means in relieving an urgent disease. 1866Rogers 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.
1611Bible Dan. iii. 22 The Kings commandement was vrgent. 1779Mirror No. 32, The remonstrances of his man of business, aided by very urgent requests from me. 1816Bentham Chrestom. 262 Other objects, for the illustration of which the demand..is accordingly still more urgent. 1856Stanley Sinai & Pal. iv. 205 This summons was as urgent as words can describe. 1883O. 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. 1886Baring-Gould Court Royal xxxviii, ‘Papa,’ said Lady Grace in urgent tones.
2. Of a feeling, etc.: That constrains, impels, or prompts. Also const. of.
1559Reg. St. Andrews Kirk Session (S.H.S.) I. 18 Giue thei be vexed and urnet with ustioun and urgent appetites of the flesche. 1566Drant Hor., Sat. ii. i. E vij b, Yf I haue suche vrgent luste, and lykyng to indite. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. i. vii, The miseries of Ireland are urgent of a speedy redress. 1748G. White Serm. (MS.), If people will not follow nature in her most urgent affections, and importunate Requests. 1873Morley 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.
1548Elyot, Premo,..premere,..to be vrgent or instante vpon. 1565Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Premo, I was not more vrgent or instant on any pointe, then, &c. a1593Marlowe & Nashe Dido iii. i, All these..Haue been most vrgent suiters for my loue. 1611Bible Exod. xii. 33 The Egyptians were vrgent vpon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste. 1698Collier Immor. Stage 107 Oedipus is..Urgent for an account of Particulars. 1732T. Lediard Sethos II. x. 355 The officers of his fleet were urgent in offering their services. 1778F. Burney Evelina ii, The advice and entreaties of all his friends, among whom I was myself the most urgent. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 149 His family have been very urgent for him to make an expedition to Margate. 1883Law Times 20 Oct. 408/1 The public and the Profession were alike urgent in calling for sweeping reforms.
b. Eagerly desirous to do something.
1753–4Richardson Grandison II. xxviii. 227, I never knew him to be so very urgent to know my heart. 1798S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 181 [It] made him..urgent to set out for England. 1826Galt Last of Lairds xxxiv. 302 Mr. Loopy..had been calling, urgent to see me. 1846A. Marsh Father Darcy II. 243 He is very urgent to see him.
II.
4. Impelling, pressing, or bearing onwards.
1546Yorks. Chantry Surv. (Surtees) 209 When as the waters of Rothere and Downe are so urgent, that the curate of Rotherham cannot to them repayre. 1876R. 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. 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.
1545Brinklow Compl. ii. 10 b, An vrgent dammage to the common welth. 1600Hakluyt Voy. III. 49 During the two houres of those two dayes the heat is very vrgent. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. ii. 187 Not alone The death of Fuluia, with more vrgent touches, Do strongly speake to vs. a1699J. 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.
1611Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 465 Please your Highnesse To take the vrgent houre. 1791Cowper Iliad i. 74 But time is urgent; haste we to consult Priest, prophet, or interpreter of dreams.
Hence ˈurgentness, urgency. rare.
1598Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 25 The vrgentnesse of the cause doeth deepely require it. 1727Bailey (vol. II), Pressingness, Urgentness.
Add:[I.] [1.] c. quasi-adv. In the superlative form urgentest (Telegraphese), as urgently as possible. Cf. soonest s.v. soon adv. 14 a.
1969N. Freeling Tsing-Boum viii. 50 Pray send urgentest all known. 1981‘W. Haggard’ Money Men iii. 37 You should report to me urgentest, if necessary on an open line. |