Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER'EMP-TO-RY, a. [Fr. peremptoire; It. perentorio; L. peremptorius, from peremptus, taken away, killed.]

1. Express; positive; absolute; decisive; authoritative; in a manner to preclude debate or expostulation. The orders of the commander are peremptory.
2. Positive in opinion or judgment. The genuine effect of sound learning is to make men less peremptory in their determinations.
3. Final; determinate.
4. Peremptory challenge, in law, a challenge or right of challenging jurors without showing cause.