temerity
5 dictionary results for: temerity
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
te·mer·i·ty 
[tuh-mer-i-tee] Pronunciation Key
[tuh-mer-i-tee] Pronunciation Key –noun
| reckless boldness; rashness. |
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME temeryte < L temeritās hap, chance, rashness, equiv. to temer(e) by chance, rashly + -itās -ity]
] —Synonyms audacity, effrontery, foolhardiness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| te·mer·i·ty
(tə-měr'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n. Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness. [Middle English temerite, from Old French, from Latin temeritās, from temere, rashly.] |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
temerity
temerity
1432, from M.Fr. témérité (15c.), from L. temeritatem (nom. temeritas) "blind chance, accident, rashness," from temere "by chance, blindly, casually, rashly," related to tenebrae "darkness," from PIE base *temes- "dark" (cf. Skt. tamas- "darkness," tamsrah "dark;" Avestan temah "darkness;" Lith. tamsa "darkness," tamsus "dark;" O.C.S. tima "darkness;" O.H.G. dinstar "dark;" O.Ir. temel "darkness").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Temerity
Te*mer"i*ty\, n. [L. temeritas, from temere by chance, rashly; perhaps akin to Skr. tamas darkness: cf. F. t['e]m['e]rit['e].] Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war. Syn: Rashness; precipitancy; heedlessness; venturesomeness. Usage: Temerity, Rashness. These words are closely allied in sense, but have a slight difference in their use and application. Temerity is Latin, and rashness is Anglo-Saxon. As in many such cases, the Latin term is more select and dignified; the Anglo-Saxon more familiar and energetic. We show temerity in hasty decisions, and the conduct to which they lead. We show rashness in particular actions, as dictated by sudden impulse. It is an exhibition of temerity to approach the verge of a precipice; it is an act of rashness to jump into a river without being able to swim. Temerity, then, is an unreasonable contempt of danger; rashness is a rushing into danger from thoughtlessness or excited feeling. It is notorious temerity to pass sentence upon grounds uncapable of evidence. --Barrow. Her rush hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Share This:
Copyright © 2008, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.