temerity

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n temerity fearless daring
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • n Temerity Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war. "It is notorious temerity to pass sentence upon grounds uncapable of evidence.""Her rush hand in evil hour
      Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n temerity Extreme venturesomeness; rashness; recklessness.
    • n temerity Synonyms Rashness, Temerity (see rashness); venturesomeness, presumption, foolhardiness.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Temerity te-mėr′i-ti rashness: unreasonable contempt for danger
    • ***

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. temeritas, from temere, by chance, rashly; perhaps akin to Skr. tamas, darkness: cf. F. témérité,
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
Fr. témérité—L. temeritas—temere, by chance, rashly.

Usage

In literature:

If he assumes a fierce and haughty front, his readers are perhaps offended with his temerity, and the critics enraged at his assurance.
"The English Spy" by Bernard Blackmantle
Miss Isobel and Miss Enid stood aghast at his temerity, and waited hourly for the lightning of Madam's wrath to annihilate him.
"Quin" by Alice Hegan Rice
Fear is not your failing, though temerity may be.
"The Two Admirals" by J. Fenimore Cooper
The temerity of the count and his superior forces dismayed Adalbert, giving him grounds for sober reflections.
"Legends of the Rhine" by Wilhelm Ruland
I ought, perhaps, to apologise for my temerity in using this now discredited word.
"What Is and What Might Be" by Edmond Holmes
Non temere exiluere, canent quod vincere par est.
"The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus" by Caius Valerius Catullus
She showed her temerity by soon dismissing the servant.
"In Apple-Blossom Time" by Clara Louise Burnham
Percy had the temerity once more to express doubt.
"The Cock-House at Fellsgarth" by Talbot Baines Reed
The sacrilegious temerity of the boy artist, called for instant and exemplary punishment.
"Anecdotes of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Architects, and Curiosities of Art, (Vol. 2 of 3)" by Shearjashub Spooner
They had cause to repent their temerity.
"Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships" by W.H.G. Kingston
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In poetry:

Take heed, lest thou thyself shou'dst e'er draw near
To that blest board, without a pious fear :
Reflect what aweful viands on it lie;
Lest thou for thy temerity shou'dst die.
"A Preparation For The Holy Communion" by Rees Prichard

In news:

You've no doubt heard about Raul Ibanez's war with a previously obscure blogger who recently had the temerity to suggest that maybe, just maybe Ibanez's big numbers this season might have benefited from a bit of illicit drug use.
espn.go.com
So excuse my temerity as we discuss a brazen report recently issued by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) entitled.
industrialheating.com
Temerity at the Top.
nytimes.com
No one had the temerity to question the Queen's decision.
wkqsfm.com
Temerity Lion Heart Tale of the Cat.
bloodhorse.com
The lockup of Saddam has unchained Joe, who is now whacking away furiously at Howard Dean, Wesley Clark and Democrats with the temerity to have opposed the war.
laweekly.com
I see where Wendy Sawyer of the county Democratic committee has the temerity to suggest that, because her party maintains its hegemony in.
baltimoresun.com
They haven't won (much less fought in) anything remotely resembling a classic ship-on-ship engagement in nearly 70 years, which I just had the temerity to point out.
mauitime.com
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Related words