Malapertness

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  malapert \mal"a*pert\ (m[a^]l"[.a]*p[~e]rt), a. [OF. malapert
     unskillful, ill-taught, ill-bred; mal ill + apert open,
     adroit, intelligent, L. apertus, p. p. of aperire to open.
     See {Malice}, and {Aperient}.]
     Bold; forward; impudent; saucy; pert. --Shak. -- n. A
     malapert person.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           Are you growing malapert! Will you force me to make use
           of my authority ?                        --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster] -- {Mal"a*pert`ly}, adv. -- {mal"a*pert`ness},
     n.
     [1913 Webster]