From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Insolent \In"so*lent\, a. [F. insolent, L. insolens, -entis,
pref. in- not + solens accustomed, p. pr. of solere to be
accustomed.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Deviating from that which is customary; novel; strange;
unusual. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
If one chance to derive any word from the Latin
which is insolent to their ears . . . they forthwith
make a jest at it. --Pettie.
[1913 Webster]
If any should accuse me of being new or insolent.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. Haughty and contemptuous or brutal in behavior or
language; overbearing; domineering; grossly rude or
disrespectful; saucy; as, an insolent master; an insolent
servant. "A paltry, insolent fellow." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Insolent is he that despiseth in his judgment all
other folks as in regard of his value, of his
cunning, of his speaking, and of his bearing.
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Can you not see? or will ye not observe . . .
How insolent of late he is become,
How proud, how peremptory? --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Proceeding from or characterized by insolence; insulting;
as, insolent words or behavior.
[1913 Webster]
Their insolent triumph excited . . . indignation.
--Macaulay.
Syn: Overbearing; insulting; abusive; offensive; saucy;
impudent; audacious; pert; impertinent; rude;
reproachful; opprobrious.
Usage: {Insolent}, {Insulting}. Insolent, in its primitive
sense, simply denoted unusual; and to act insolently
was to act in violation of the established rules of
social intercourse. He who did this was insolent; and
thus the word became one of the most offensive in our
language, indicating gross disregard for the feelings
of others. Insulting denotes a personal attack, either
in words or actions, indicative either of scorn or
triumph. Compare {Impertinent}, {Affront},
{Impudence}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
insolent
adj 1: marked by casual disrespect; "a flip answer to serious
question"; "the student was kept in for impudent
behavior" [syn: {impudent}, {insolent}, {snotty-nosed},
{flip}]
2: unrestrained by convention or propriety; "an audacious trick
to pull"; "a barefaced hypocrite"; "the most bodacious
display of tourism this side of Anaheim"- Los Angeles Times;
"bald-faced lies"; "brazen arrogance"; "the modern world with
its quick material successes and insolent belief in the
boundless possibilities of progress"- Bertrand Russell [syn:
{audacious}, {barefaced}, {bodacious}, {bald-faced},
{brassy}, {brazen}, {brazen-faced}, {insolent}]
|
