Jump to content
Last Call for Comicality Tribute!
 Share

9 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 52,130

Posted

  • Popular Comment

Temerity ultimately comes from the Latin noun temeritās (inflectional stem temeritāt-) “rashness, recklessness, thoughtlessness.” The Latin noun is a derivative of the adverb temerē (with the same meanings), and temerē in form is a fossil form of an assumed noun temus (stem temer-) “darkness” and meant “in the dark. 

The earliest known use of the word "temerity" in English is from the late Middle English period, appearing before 1475 in R. Higden's "Polychronicon".


Examples of temerity in a sentence: 
* Despite the obvious danger, the hiker displayed the temerity to climb the trecherous chill face. 
* He paused, ready to pounce upon any man who might have the temerity to reply.
* His method was one of the wildest temerity and impetuosity, and can be recommended to nobody.
* But none had the temerity to follow him.
*  That guy has all the temerity of a guy who knows he warrants confidence and power.
* Now that he had done it, he felt amazed at his own temerity in delivering such an ultimatum to the Coronal.
* One of the German reporters had even had the temerity to suggest that Todd was undergoing plastic surgery.
* They even have the temerity to suggest that he's slipping mentally.

 

  • Like 6
  • Site Moderator
drpaladin

drpaladin 85,667

Posted

  • Site Moderator

I typically think of temerity in terms of extreme chutzpah or gall; as in a man killing his parents and then demanding mercy because he's an orphan.

  • Like 4
  • Wow 1
Bill W

Bill W 52,130

Posted

2 hours ago, drpaladin said:

I typically think of temerity in terms of extreme chutzpah or gall; as in a man killing his parents and then demanding mercy because he's an orphan.

That example defines chutzpah well, but I think of temerity as the computer geek that believes he can solve any problem with your computer, the criminal that believes he'll never get caught, or the athlete that feels he can make the final score to win the game.  

  • Like 4
  • Site Moderator
drpaladin

drpaladin 85,667

Posted

  • Site Moderator
2 hours ago, Bill W said:

That example defines chutzpah well, but I think of temerity as the computer geek that believes he can solve any problem with your computer, the criminal that believes he'll never get caught, or the athlete that feels he can make the final score to win the game.  

If you take a deep dive into those words, you'll find temerity, chutzpah, audacity, effrontery, gall, nerve, brass, and many more are synonyms.

  • Like 4
Bill W

Bill W 52,130

Posted

1 hour ago, drpaladin said:

If you take a deep dive into those words, you'll find temerity, chutzpah, audacity, effrontery, gall, nerve, brass, and many more are synonyms.

Those words may loosely be considered synonyms, but it doesn't mean they fit every situation equally.  

  • Like 4
  • Site Moderator
drpaladin

drpaladin 85,667

Posted

  • Site Moderator
9 minutes ago, Bill W said:

Those words may loosely be considered synonyms, but it doesn't mean they fit every situation equally.  

Meh. The difference between them is insignificant.. 

  • Like 4
Bill W

Bill W 52,130

Posted

2 hours ago, drpaladin said:

Meh. The difference between them is insignificant.. 

I still say that would be chutzpah or hypocrisy , not excessive confidence or boldness.  

  • Haha 4

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...