temerity

  • 1Temerity — 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. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2temerity — temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall are comparable when they mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness (as in speech, behavior, or action). Temerity usually implies contempt of danger and consequent rashness; often it… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3temerity — [tə mer′ə tē] n. [ME temeryte < L temeritas < temere, rashly, blindly < IE base * tem , dark > OS thimm, dark, L tenebrae, darkness] foolish or rash boldness; foolhardiness; recklessness SYN. TEMERITY refers to a rashness or foolish… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4temerity — I noun audacity, boldness, carelessness, daring, effrontery, fool hardiness, foolishness, gall, hastiness, heedlessness, impetuosity, improvidence, imprudence, impudence, incautiousness, inconsiderateness, indiscretion, injudiciousness, nerve,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 5temerity — early 15c., 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 root *temes dark (Cf. Skt. tamas darkness,… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6temerity — [n] nerve, audacity assurance, boldness, brass*, carelessness, daring, effrontery, foolhardiness, forwardness, gall, hardihood, hastiness, heedlessness, impertinence, impetuosity, imprudence, impudence, impulsiveness, indiscretion, intrepidity,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7temerity — ► NOUN ▪ excessive confidence or boldness. ORIGIN Latin temeritas, from temere rashly …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8temerity — noun (plural ties) Etymology: Middle English temeryte, from Latin temeritas, from temere blindly, recklessly; akin to Old High German demar darkness, Latin tenebrae, Sanskrit tamas Date: 15th century 1. unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9temerity — n. the temerity to + inf. (he had the temerity to file a grievance) * * * [tɪ merɪtɪ] the temerity to + inf. (he had the temerity to file a grievance) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10temerity — noun I doubt they ll have the temerity to print these accusations Syn: audacity, nerve, effrontery, impudence, impertinence, cheek, gall, presumption; daring; informal face, front, neck, chutzpah •• temerity, audacity, effrontery, foolhardiness,… …

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