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r distress; need; a case demanding immediate action, supply, or remedy; as, an unforeseen exigency. "The present exigency of his affairs." Ludlow.

the cable as soon as she pays off on the other tack. Clubhauling is attempted only in an exigency.

Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency; as, the doctor of a calico- printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine.

bination of circumstances which calls for immediate action or remedy; pressing necessity; exigency. To whom she might her doubts propose, On all emergencies that rose. Swift. A safe counselor in most difficult emergencies. Brougham.

To furnish for service, or against a need or exigency; to fit out; to supply with whatever is necessary to efficient action in any way; to provide with arms or an armament, stores, munitions, rigging, etc.; -- said esp. of ships and of troops. Dryden. Gave orders for equipping a considerable fleet. Ludlow.…

Exigency. Hooker.

Exigency; pressing necessity; decisive moment. [Obs.] Why do you cross me in this exigent Shak.

Means devised in an exigency; shift.

To bring into doubt; to cause to be doubted. [Obs.] To conceal, or indubitate, his exigency. Sir T. Browne.

whereby a party is required to do or to refrain from doing certain acts, according to the exigency of the writ.

p., one made critical or important by a concurrence of circumstances; hence, a crisis; an exigency. "Extraordinary junctures." Addison. In such a juncture, what can the most plausible and refined philosophy offer Berkeley.

Need; exigency; requirement; necessity; as, I have no occasion for firearms. After we have served ourselves and our own occasions. Jer. Taylor. When my occasions took me into France. Burke.

to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.

Kept for future or special use, or for an exigency; as, reserved troops; a reserved seat in a theater.

nd on the finger board, in playing the violin. To make shift, to contrive or manage in an exigency. "I shall make shift to go without him." Shak. [They] made a shift to keep their own in Ireland. Milton.