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Webster 1913 Edition


Audacity

Au-dac′i-ty

,
Noun.
1.
Daring spirit, resolution, or confidence; venturesomeness.
The freedom and
audacity
necessary in the commerce of men.
Tatler.
2.
Reckless daring; presumptuous impudence; – implying a contempt of law or moral restraints.
With the most arrogant
audacity
.
Joye.

Webster 1828 Edition


Audacity

AUDAC'ITY

, n.
1.
Boldness, sometimes in a good sense; daring spirit, resolution or confidence.
2.
Audaciousness; impudence; in a bad sense; implying a contempt of law or moral restraint.

Definition 2024


audacity

audacity

English

Noun

audacity (countable and uncountable, plural audacities)

  1. Insolent boldness, especially when imprudent or unconventional.
    The brash private had the audacity to criticize the general.
    Somebody never pays his loans, yet he has the audacity to ask the bank for money.
    • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “chapter XVIII”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:
      “Oh?” she said. “So you have decided to revise my guest list for me? You have the nerve, the – the –” I saw she needed helping out. “Audacity,” I said, throwing her the line. “The audacity to dictate to me who I shall have in my house.” It should have been “whom”, but I let it go. “You have the –” “Crust.” “– the immortal rind,” she amended, and I had to admit it was stronger, “to tell me whom” – she got it right that time – “I may entertain at Brinkley Court and who” – wrong again – “I may not.”
  2. Fearlessness, intrepid or daring, especially with confident disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.

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External links

  • audacity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • audacity in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • audacity at OneLook Dictionary Search