EMERG'ENCE EMERG'ENCY, noun The act of rising out of a fluid or other covering or surrounding matter. 1. The act of rising or starting into view; the act of issuing from or quitting. The white color of all refracted light, at its first emergence--is compounded of various colors. 2. That which comes suddenly; a sudden occasion; an unexpected event. Most of our rarities have been found out by casual emergency. In case of emergency, [or in an emergency] he would employ the whole wealth of his empire.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI