Emergency, noun

Forms:
Also with small initial.
Origin:
Short for state of emergency.
A period during which the government, in order to contain or suppress political dissent or unrest, restricts freedom of speech, movement, and association, and limits the rule of law, by extending the powers of the executive and restricting the jurisdiction of the courts; also, the regulations governing conduct during such a period. Also attributive.
Note:
The first national state of emergency in South Africa was declared in 1960, and several were imposed during the 1980s. See also 90-day, 180-day.
1962 A.J. Luthuli Let my People Go 198Arrests began on a large scale...A few evaded the police net and sat out the Emergency in more hospitable places.
1962 A.J. Luthuli Let my People Go 199The arrests were illegal since at that time the Emergency had not been gazetted.
1986 S. Sepamla Third Generation 105Bra Joe..reminded him of someone from the days of the Emergency...He was hauled in with many other activists and..bundled into the same cell.
1986 P. Browne in Style July 43The government..has decided to curb the presence of television..equipment during unrest situations in emergency areas.
1987 E. Prov. Herald 14 May 4‘Free the children’ T-shirts worn by two of the women contravened the emergency regulations.
1987 New Nation 11 June 6This emergency is by far the most severe...The last emergency was only partial, and the regulations were not as stringent and harsh.
1987 Weekly Mail 12 June 1Important security trials were held up because Emergency detainees were not available as witnesses.
1987 Pretoria News 17 June 1This newspaper is produced under emergency restrictions. Curtailment of certain reports may lead to an incomplete presentation of the events of the day.
1987 Weekly Mail 17 July 3If the three Emergencies were aimed at silencing militant unions, all that massive strong-arm effort appears to have failed.
1990 G. Slovo Ties of Blood 377‘They have banished me,’ he said simply...‘Ever since the Emergency.’
A period during which the government, in order to contain or suppress political dissent or unrest, restricts freedom of speech, movement, and association, and limits the rule of law, by extending the powers of the executive and restricting the jurisdiction of the courts; also, the regulations governing conduct during such a period. Also attributive.
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19621990

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