Crossword clues for temerity
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Temerity \Te*mer"i*ty\, n. [L. temeritas, from temere by chance, rashly; perhaps akin to Skr. tamas darkness: cf. F. t['e]m['e]rit['e].] Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war.
Syn: Rashness; precipitancy; heedlessness; venturesomeness.
Usage: Temerity, Rashness. These words are closely allied in sense, but have a slight difference in their use and application. Temerity is Latin, and rashness is Anglo-Saxon. As in many such cases, the Latin term is more select and dignified; the Anglo-Saxon more familiar and energetic. We show temerity in hasty decisions, and the conduct to which they lead. We show rashness in particular actions, as dictated by sudden impulse. It is an exhibition of temerity to approach the verge of a precipice; it is an act of rashness to jump into a river without being able to swim. Temerity, then, is an unreasonable contempt of danger; rashness is a rushing into danger from thoughtlessness or excited feeling.
It is notorious temerity to pass sentence upon
grounds uncapable of evidence.
--Barrow.
Her rush hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she
eat.
--Milton.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., from Latin temeritatem (nominative temeritas) "blind chance, accident; rashness, indiscretion, foolhardiness," from temere "by chance, at random; indiscreetly, rashly," related to tenebrae "darkness," from PIE root *teme- "dark" (cognates: Sanskrit tamas- "darkness," tamsrah "dark;" Avestan temah "darkness;" Lithuanian tamsa "darkness," tamsus "dark;" Old Church Slavonic tima "darkness;" Old High German dinstar "dark;" Old Irish temel "darkness"). The connecting notion is "blindly, without foreseeing."
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context not countable English) reckless boldness; foolish bravery. 2 (context countable English) An act or case of reckless boldness. 3 (context not countable English) effrontery; impudence.
WordNet
n. fearless daring [syn: audacity, audaciousness]
Wikipedia
Temerity is a section of steep, gladed skiing terrain at Aspen Highlands, one of the four mountains owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company in Aspen, Colorado. "Boldness, to the point of being foolish," Temerity is designated as double-diamond experts-only terrain. Skiers and snowboarders should be practiced in tree skiing and aware of the dangers involved, and comfortable on experts-only mogul skiing runs such as Steeplechase before attempting.
Usage examples of "temerity".
You were once kind enough to admire, and pretend bafflement by, the small tricks I had the temerity to show to you.
In this case, I can prove beyond doubt--should anyone have the temerity to ask me--that Foan could not.
Sister Beatrice had been one of the half-dozen wide-eyed Michaelites who had had the temerity to propose the tent community to the city of London two years earlier.
Mucia Tertia, is now married to that young upstart from Picenum, Gnaeus Pompeius who has the temerity to call himself Magnus.
And consequently, inasmuch as the most reverend and illustrious Archbishop and Prince Elector of Treves not only permits witches and magicians to be subjected to deserved punishment in his diocese, but has also ordained laws regulating the mode and cost of the procedure against witches, thereby with inconsiderate temerity tacitly insinuating the charge of tyranny against the said Elector of Treves.
With unheard-of temerity Judge Cradlebaugh opened his court and proceeded to make Mormondom answer for the massacre.
Did this miserable mortal creature in my grasp actually have the brazen, boldfaced temerity to deceive me, defy me, deride me, to try to turn me into a--a--a writer?
I shall be sorry if the ambassador views my proceedings in the same light as yourself, and puts down to temerity what was meant for a mark of respect.
Nor had Angelica Hunter, although had not Pope been so wrapped up in his music, he would have noticed the girl in his composition class who cast shy, longing glances at him and once even had the temerity to ask him about a cello passage, a question he had brushed off as unworthy of his notice.
I have seen, therefore I ask that the experiences narrated, the statements made, and the views expressed in this book may receive earnest consideration, not only from those who have the temerity to read it, but serious consideration also from our Statesmen and local authorities, from our Churches and philanthropists, from our men of business and from men of the world.
It gave him the temerity to bring up the subject of his rejected transfer.
Arriving home, he at once routed out a young dragon who had had the temerity to take up residence in his cave while Chryso phylax was away.
Q So on the one hand you would enjoin Joe Blow from presenting what you consider a crude, vulgar, demeaning expression of an idea which you feel you have made your own, exalting it to a protected status through your own unique artistic expression, while on the other hand you have no hesitation at all in offering us a parable from one of the greatest minds in western history dressed in this manifestly crude, vulgar and hence debased version, with the temerity to label it homage into the bargain.
Captain Marquinez, as beautifully uniformed as a palace guard, frowned at Sharpe's temerity, though Bautista, at last looking up from his paperwork, seemed merely amused by Sharpe's loud voice.
She glared through starting tears at Mr Carleton, and added, with a gasp at her own temerity: "