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malapert

[mal-uh-purt]Archaic.
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adjective
  1. unbecomingly bold or saucy.
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noun
  1. a malapert person.
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Origin of malapert

1375–1425; late Middle English: insolent < Middle French: unskillful. See mal-, pert
Related formsmal·a·pert·ly, adverbmal·a·pert·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for malapert

arrant, assuming, assumptive, audacious, barefaced, blatant, bold, brash, brassy, brazen, bumptious, cheeky, cocky, contumelious, cool, disrespectful, familiar, flip, flippant, forward

Examples from the Web for malapert

Historical Examples of malapert

  • Malapert and Lehideux are still well represented in the Paris Directory.

    The Romance of Names

    Ernest Weekley

  • "I'll e'en fetch him to you myself, malapert," said Warrenton.

    Robin Hood

    Paul Creswick

  • Another word of that kind, and I'll show you how malapert lads are treated.

  • I will say what I will in mine own house, thou evil, malapert boy!

    The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn

    Evelyn Everett-Green

  • One morning, his barber, a malapert of the old comedies, ventured to ask him what he was thinking of.

British Dictionary definitions for malapert

malapert

adjective
  1. saucy or impudent
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noun
  1. a saucy or impudent person
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Derived Formsmalapertly, adverbmalapertness, noun

Word Origin for malapert

C15: from Old French: unskilful (see mal-, expert); meaning in English influenced by apert frank, from Latin apertus open
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for malapert

adj.

"impudent," early 15c., from Old French mal apert, literally "ill-skilled," from mal- "badly" (see mal-) + apert "skillful," variant of espert "experienced, skillful, clever" (from Latin expertus; see expert). Related: Malapertly; malapertness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper