Exigence
/ˈɛksɪdʒəns/noun
A pressing demand or urgent need.
Did you know?It comes from Latin *exigere*, originally meaning “to drive out” or “demand,” a root that also gave English words tied to measuring, exactness, and pressure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ag-
“to drive, lead, move”
Latin
Latin
exigere
“to drive out, demand, exact, measure out”
Late Latin
Latin
exigentia
“a pressing demand or need”
Old French
Old French
exigence
“urgency, pressing need”
Middle English
English
exigence
“urgent need or demand”
Modern English
English
exigence
“a pressing demand or urgent need”