malapert
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- malapertly adverb
- malapertness noun
Etymology
Origin of malapert
1375–1425; late Middle English: insolent < Middle French: unskillful. See mal-, pert
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I had a wife—may heaven bless her soul—but when it happened sometimes that she played malapert, I used to mount the high horse, and bring out my thunder.
From Diderot and the Encyclopædists Volume II. by Morley, John
"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your majesty," he said.
From St George's Cross by Keene, H. G. (Henry George)
Hush, Bess, thou 'rt malapert," chided her mother, descending heavily into the boat, while a mutinous young voice above called out,— "Nay, I'm not going.
From Standish of Standish A story of the Pilgrims by Austin, Jane G. (Jane Goodwin)
"Did that little malapert come with you?" asked Porbus of the older man.
From The Unknown Masterpiece 1845 by Balzac, Honoré de
"Socrates, thou malapert," said Diogenes sternly, "take my hat off my head at once, and allow me to make obeisance to the lady, or I'll drop thee incontinently on thy back."
From The Laughing Cavalier The Story of the Ancestor of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
