Impertinent
[ɪm'pɜːtɪnənt] or [ɪm'pɝtnənt]
Definition
(adj.) characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality; 'a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner' .
Typist: Melville--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Not pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable.
(a.) Contrary to, or offending against, the rules of propriety or good breeding; guilty of, or prone to, rude, unbecoming, or uncivil words or actions; as, an impertient coxcomb; an impertient remark.
(a.) Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.
(n.) An impertinent person.
Typed by Camilla
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Irrelevant, inapposite, not applicable, not to the point, not pertaining to the matter in hand, not pertinent.[2]. Intrusive, meddling, officious, insolent, rude, impudent, saucy, forward, pert, bold, malapert, unmannerly.
Editor: Rena
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See PERTINENT]
Edited by Antony
Definition
adj. not pertaining to the matter in hand: trifling: intrusive: saucy: impudent.—n. Imper′tinence that which is impertinent: intrusion: impudence over-forwardness: (law) matter introduced into an affidavit &c. not pertinent to the matter.—adv. Imper′tinently.
Editor: Megan
Examples
- What I mean is, Lizzie, that I am a mere impertinent piece of conceit, and you shame me. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I feel that I should certainly have been impertinent. Jane Austen. Emma.
- The affected anxiety of the lawgiver, lest they should employ an improper person, is evidently as impertinent as it is oppressive. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- It made even the impertinent structure of this null house disappear. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Impertinent Mohammedan Arabs, to think such things of gentlemen of another faith! Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- I hope you will excuse me for doing what is only my duty, although it may appear impertinent. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- How very impertinent! Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Don't be impertinent to a gentleman, Sir,' said Mr. Smangle. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I did not choose to repeat the question, and perhaps provoke an impertinent reply. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I hope it was not impertinent to speculate upon it? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- And I think I could bear up against--at any rate, I could have the energy to resent, Mrs. Thornton's unjust, impertinent suspicions. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- The third day's post brought me a most impertinent letter from a person with whom I was totally unacquainted. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- He took hold of me by the chin in a precious impertinent way, the first time I ever saw him,' said the boy. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- You're an insolent impertinent fellow. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Acquit me of impertinent curiosity, my dear Mrs. Bounderby. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- You vile, impertinent monster! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Indignation kept me silent after reading the following impertinent letter from the Marquis of Sligo, to whom I had only been presented the day before. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- That impertinent fellow who goes from house to house is one of the real masters of the statistical situation. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Insufferably impertinent! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Certainly; it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to trouble you with any inquisitiveness of mine. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- I knew she would put herself in the way, if she could, and would be sure to strike in with something impertinent. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I should richly deserve to be turned out of the box were I to do anything so very impertinent, interrupted his lordship. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- This fellow, Fledgeby, presumes to be impertinent to me, Lammle. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- It may seem impertinent in _me_ to praise, but I must admire the taste Mrs. Grant has shewn in all this. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- You impertinent boy! Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- Might I ask, without seeming impertinent, whether you have any intention of selling it? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins submitted. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
Editor: Megan