Exigency

Noun

Definition: an urgent need or demand; a pressing or critical situation

Synonyms: Emergency, Urgency, Crisis, Necessity

Antonyms: Calm, Non-emergency, Non-urgent

Examples:

The doctor rushed to the hospital to attend to the exigency.
I apologize for the delay, but there was an unexpected exigency at work.

Mnemonics:

"Exigency" sounds similar to "emergency."

Etymology:

Origin:

Late Middle English from Latin 'exigentia', from 'exigere' meaning 'demand, require'

Historical Usage:

The word has been used in English since the late Middle Ages to convey the idea of a pressing need or urgent requirement.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Exigency of the situation"

Explanation:

Describes the urgency or critical nature of a particular situation.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing 'exigency' with 'exigent.'

Explanation:

Although both words are related and derive from the same Latin root, 'exigent' is an adjective meaning 'demanding immediate attention,' while 'exigency' is the noun form referring to an urgent situation or need.