malapert

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word malapert. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word malapert, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say malapert in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word malapert you have here. The definition of the word malapert will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofmalapert, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Malapert

English

WOTD – 2 July 2017

Alternative forms

Etymology

From mal- (“not, badly”) +‎ apert (“open, revealed; direct, straightforward; clever, expert”), or from Middle French malappert,[1] Old French mal apert (“ill-skilled”).

Pronunciation

Noun

malapert (plural malaperts)

  1. (archaic) A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person.

Synonyms

Adjective

malapert (comparative more malapert, superlative most malapert)

  1. (archaic) Cheeky, impudent, saucy.
    • a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Poems against Garnesche. Skelton Laureate Defendar ageinst Lusty Garnyshe Well Beseen Crystofer Chalangar, et cetera.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: , volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, , published 1843, →OCLC, page 130, lines 145–147:
      The follest slouen ondyr heuen, / Prowde, peuiche, lyddyr, and lewde, / Malapert, medyllar, nothyng well thewde, […]
      The foullest sloven under heaven, / Proud, peevish, lither, and lewd, / Malapert, meddler, nothing well thewed,
    • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, “A Defence of Seneca and Plutarke”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes , book II, London: Val Simmes for Edward Blount , →OCLC, page 414:
      Nevertheleſſe I finde him [Iohn Bodine] ſomewhat malapert and bolde in that paſſage of his Methode of Hiſtorie, when he accuseth Plutarke, not onely of ignorance […] but alſo that he often writeth, things altogether incredible and meerely fabulous (theſe are his very words).
    • 1663 April 27 (Gregorian calendar), John Bunyan, “Touching Parents”, in Christian Behaviour; or The Fruits of True Christianity. , London: F. Smith, , →OCLC, page 56:
      […] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble.
    • , James Fergusson, “chapter VI”, in A Brief Exposition of the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, London: Thomas Ward and Co., Paternoster-Row, →OCLC, page 257, column 1:
      A proud heart, evidencing itself in a saucy, malapert, aweless, and careless carriage, is most unbeseeming the condition of servants, and highly displeasing to God in them, as being opposite to that property of fear and trembling which ought to accompany their obedience: "Be obedient with fear and trembling."

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ “malapert, n., adj., and adv.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2000.

Anagrams

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia