The state or condition of requiring help or support; difficulty, distress. Frequently in hour (also time,etc.) of need: a time of trouble…

An occasion or time of need, a difficulty. Obsolete.

A state of pressing need; a time of extreme necessity; a critical occasion, or one that requires immediate action or aid; an emergency, an…

figurative. The point at which a person is precipitated into trouble, difficulty, or danger; a critical situation, a strait; a dilemma. Esp. in to…

A time when there is occasion or need for something. Obsolete. rare.

figurative. The condition of being pushed or pressed; the pressure of affairs or circumstances; a case or time of stress or urgency; a critical…

figurative. A position or juncture in which one can do no more, an extremity, ‘a hopeless exigence’ (Johnson). Usually in phrase at a dead lift…

figurative. Stress, pressure of circumstances; ‘need, emergency’ (Nares). Obsolete.

= exigency, n. 2.

Urgent need or demand; necessity; emergency; great trouble or difficulty.

An unforeseen occurrence, a contingency not specially provided for; = emergency, n. 3. Obsolete.

figurative. A crisis or emergency; = dead lift, n. Obsolete.

concrete. (The ordinary modern use.) A juncture that arises or ‘turns up’; esp. a state of things unexpectedly arising, and urgently demanding…

An unforeseen occurrence; a state of things unexpectedly arising, and demanding immediate attention.

= emergency, n. 4.

An extremely difficult or challenging situation; a predicament; a nonplus. Frequently in at (also in) an amplush: at a loss; uncertain as to how to…

transferred and figurative. A vitally important or decisive stage in the progress of anything; a turning-point; also, a state of affairs in which…

euphemistic or colloquial (originally U.S.). A difficult, troubling, or problematic state of affairs or set of circumstances, typically one that…