different between decisive vs peremptory

English

Etymology

From Middle French décisif

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??sa?s?v/
• Rhymes: -a?s?v

Adjective

decisive (comparative more decisive, superlative most decisive)

1. Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.

   A decisive battle is fatal for one side's war chances

   A decisive vote
2. Marked by promptness and decision.

   A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character. -J. Foster.

Synonyms

• decided
• positive
• conclusive

Antonyms

• indecisive

Derived terms

• decisively
• decisiveness

Related terms

• decidable
• decided

Translations

References

• decisive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

• decisive in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• iDevices

Italian

Adjective

decisive

1. feminine plural of decisivo

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin perempt?rius (“deadly; decisive”), from perim? (“destroy”), from per- (“thorough”) + em? (“I take, I acquire”) (compare English emporium (“store”)).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p????mpt??i/

Adjective

peremptory (comparative more peremptory, superlative most peremptory)

1. (law) Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal
   • 1596, Francis Bacon, Maxims of the Law, II:

     there is no reason but if any of the outlawries be indeed without error, but it should be a peremptory plea to the person in a writ of error, as well as in any other action.

   Synonyms: positive, absolute, decisive, conclusive, final

2. Positive in opinion or judgment; absolutely certain, overconfident, unwilling to hear any debate or argument (especially in a pejorative sense); dogmatic.
   • 2003, Andrew Marr, The Guardian, 6 Jan 03:

     He marched under a placard reading "End Bossiness Now" but decided it was a little too peremptory, not quite British, so changed the slogan on subsequent badges, to "End Bossiness Soon."

3. (obsolete) Firmly determined, resolute; obstinate, stubborn.
4. Accepting no refusal or disagreement; imperious, dictatorial.
   • […] less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart.

   • 1999, Anthony Howard, The Guardian, 2 Jan 99:

     Though today (surveying that yellowing document) I shudder at the peremptory tone of the instructions I gave, Alastair - in that same volume in which I get chastised for my coverage of the Macmillan rally - was generous enough to remark that my memorandum became 'an office classic'.

Derived terms

• peremptorily
• peremptory challenge

Translations

Noun

peremptory (plural peremptories)

1. (law) A challenge to the admission of a juror, without the challenger needing to show good cause.
   • 2015 June 18, Justice Alito, Davis v. Ayala, Case No. 13-1428:

     Each side was allowed 20 peremptories, and the prosecution used 18 of its allotment.

References

• peremptory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• preemptory, preëmptory