ex-

out, away; also thoroughly

Forms

ex-
e- — Shortened in Latin before certain consonants.
ef- — Used before f in Latin.
es- — Developed from ex- in French.
s- — In some French borrowings, es- lost its initial e.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *eghs, ‘out.’

Note

The outward sense could extend to carrying an action through completely.

55 / 239

noun

emergency

A serious unexpected situation requiring immediate action.

The nurse calls for help when a medical emergency occurs.

Etymology

emergencyLatinto arise; come forth

The word is related to emergence, the act of coming into view. An emergency is a situation that arises and demands action, with the modern sense emphasizing urgency and danger.

More examples

In an emergency, call 911 and stay on the line.
We keep a flashlight and extra batteries for emergencies.
A gas leak in the building is an emergency.

Forms

emergency · emergencies

Similar words

crisis: A critical situation, not necessarily sudden or unexpected.
disaster: Emphasizes severe harm or damage rather than the urgent response.