temerity

plural temerities · alternative timerity

1. uncountableReckless boldness; foolish bravery.

   Terror seized me, a horror of my temerity.

   1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, published 1898, →OCLC, (please specify the page number(s))

   5 more examples

   1569, Thomas Pearson, trans., "The Second Paradox," in The booke of Marcus Tullius Cicero entituled Paradoxa Stoicorum, T. Marshe (London), Neyther the spightfull temerity and rashnes of variable fortune, nor the envious hart burning and in iurious hatred of mine enemies shold be able once to damnify me.

   Jewan Sadit, who ſtood before the prince, obſerving his youthful temerity, threw himſelf between him and danger, and with a nervous arm, wielding a ſharp ſabre, of the hard tempered ſteel of Damiſk, ruſhing upon the tyger, he ſtruck him acroſs the forehead.

   1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 6

   One day when he knew old Lobbs was out, Nathaniel Pipkin had the temerity to kiss his hand to Maria Lobbs.

   1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 17, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC

   Elizabeth trotted through the open door in the dusk, but becoming alarmed at her own temerity, she went quickly out again by another which stood open in the lofty wall of the back court.

   1886 May, Thomas Hardy, chapter 21, in The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC

   I am surprised that you, sir, a man of letters yourself, should have the temerity so to interrupt the progress of science.

   1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter 21, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg, published March 1915, →OCLC

   Synonyms: audacity, foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness

2. countableAn act or case of reckless boldness.

   Draper, dear lad, had the illusion of an "intellectual sympathy" between them.... Draper's temerities would always be of that kind.

   1910 Sept, Edith Wharton, “The Blond Beast”, in Scribner's Magazine, volume 48

3. uncountableEffrontery; impudence.

   He had very nearly been guilty of the temerity of arrogating to himself another title in the presence of those he most respected.

   1820, James Fennimore Cooper, chapter 30, in Precaution

   1 more example

   That's jejune? You have the temerity to say that I'm talking to you out of jejunosity? I am one of the most june people in all of the Russias!

   1975, Woody Allen, Love and Death, spoken by Boris (Woody Allen)

   Synonyms: brashness, cheek, gall, chutzpah · Antonyms: cowardice, meekness