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unforeseen occurrence; a sudden occasion. Most our rarities have been found out by casual emergency. Glanvill.

what is removed; to rectify. Mar not the thing that can not be amended. Shak. An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought. De Quincey. We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman. Sir W. Scott. To amend a bill, to make some change in the de…

shot, nails, stones, pieces of old iron, etc., fired from a cannon at short range, in an emergency. [R.]

ut assistance from mechanical advantage, as from levers, pulleys, etc.; hence, an extreme emergency. "(As we say) at a dead lift." Robynson (More's Utopia). -- Dead line (Mil.), a line drawn within or around a military prison, to cross which involves for a prisoner the penalty of being instantly shot. -- Dead load (C…

ng much the same meaning as -ence, but more commonly signifying the quality or state; as, emergency, efficiency. See -ancy.

d chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also pinch bar. At a pinch, On a pinch, in an emergency; as, he could on a pinch read a little Latin.

Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit. [R.]

Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.

A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. The long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes.

t which, stands by one in need; something upon which one relies for constant use or in an emergency.

To study, as another actor's part, in order to be his substitute in an emergency; to study another actor's part.

Not adequate or sufficient; inferior; as, the man was unequal to the emergency; the timber was unequal to the sudden strain.