adj.1 (of a statement or command) admitting no denial or refusal.
2 (of a person, a person's manner, etc.) dogmatic; imperious; dictatorial.
3 Law not open to appeal or challenge; final.
4 absolutely fixed; essential.
Phrases and idioms:
peremptory challenge Law a defendant's objection to a proposed juror, made without needing to give a reason.
Derivatives:
peremptorily adv. peremptoriness n.
Etymology: AF peremptorie, OF peremptoire f. L peremptorius deadly, decisive, f. perimere perempt- destroy, cut off (as PER-, emere take, buy)