Meanings
- uncountableThe state or fact of being too bold; audacity.
nothing did him so much good toward the people (to whom he appealed) to make him obtain his suite, as the sharpnes and over boldnes which Cæsar had declared in that judgement.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 31, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC1 more example
Contrary to accepted wisdom, the qualities usually thought of as entrepreneurial - risk-taking, breakthrough creativity, foresight, grand ambition, power and administrative abilities - are all secondary. Indeed, over-boldness may be a handicap.
1999 December 19, Simon Caulkin, The Observer
Origin
- Middle Englishoverboldnesse
- Englishoverboldness
From Middle English overboldnesse, equivalent to over- + boldness, after overbold.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
overboldness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overboldness
“overboldness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overboldness. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overboldness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overboldness.
Source: overboldness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.