Hypertext Webster Gateway: "insolent"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Insolent \In"so*lent\, a. [F. insolent, L. insolens, -entis,
pref. in- not + solens accustomed, p. pr. of solere to be
accustomed.]
1. Deviating from that which is customary; novel; strange;
unusual. [Obs.]

If one chance to derive any word from the Latin
which is insolent to their ears . . . they forth
with make a jest at it. --Pettie.

If any should accuse me of being new or insolent.
--Milton.

2. Haughty and contemptuous or brutal in behavior or
language; overbearing; domineering; grossly rude or
disrespectful; saucy; as, an insolent master; an insolent
servant. ``A paltry, insolent fellow.'' --Shak.

Insolent is he that despiseth in his judgment all
other folks as in regard of his value, of his
cunning, of his speaking, and of his bearing.
--Chaucer.

Can you not see? or will ye not observe . . . How
insolent of late he is become, How proud, how
peremptory? --Shak.

3. Proceeding from or characterized by insolence; insulting;
as, insolent words or behavior.

Their insolent triumph excited . . . indignation.
--Macaulay.

Syn: Overbearing; insulting; abusive; offensive; saucy;
impudent; audacious; pert; impertinent; rude;
reproachful; opprobrious.

Usage: {Insolent}, {Insulting}. Insolent, in its primitive
sense, simply denoted unusual; and to act insolently
was to act in violation of the established rules of
social intercourse. He who did this was insolent; and
thus the word became one of the most offensive in our
language, indicating gross disregard for the feelings
of others. Insulting denotes a personal attack, either
in words or actions, indicative either of scorn or
triumph. Compare {Impertinent}, {Affront},
{Impudence}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

insolent
adj 1: marked by casual disrespect; "a flip answer to serious
question"; "the student was kept in for impudent
behavior" [syn: {impudent}, {snotty-nosed}, {flip}]
2: unrestrained by convention or propriety; "an audacious trick
to pull"; "a barefaced hypocrite"; "the most bodacious
display of tourism this side of Anaheim"- Los Angeles
Times; "bold-faced lies"; "brazen arrogance"; "the modern
world with its quick material successes and insolent
belief in the boundless possibilities of progress"-
Bertrand Russell [syn: {audacious}, {barefaced}, {bodacious},
{bold-faced}, {brassy}, {brazen}, {brazen-faced}]


Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Enter word here:
Exact Approx


dict.stokkie.net
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.