Lexic.us

Definition of Insolent

1. Adjective. Marked by casual disrespect. "The student was kept in for impudent behavior"

2. Adjective. Unrestrained by convention or propriety. "The modern world with its quick material successes and insolent belief in the boundless possibilities of progress"

Definition of Insolent

1. a. Deviating from that which is customary; novel; strange; unusual.

Definition of Insolent

1. Adjective. insulting in manner or words ¹

2. Adjective. rude ¹

3. Adjective. cheeky ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Insolent

1. an extremely rude person [n -S]

Medical Definition of Insolent

1. 1. Deviating from that which is customary; novel; strange; unusual. "If one chance to derive any word from the Latin which is insolent to their ears . . . They forth with make a jest at it." (Petti) "If any should accuse me of being new or insolent." (Milton) 2. Haughty and contemptuous or brutal in behavior or language; overbearing; domineering; grossly rude or disrespectful; saucy; as, an insolent master; an insolent servant. "A paltry, insolent fellow." "Insolent is he that despiseth in his judgment all other folks as in regard of his value, of his cunning, of his speaking, and of his bearing." (Chaucer) "Can you not see? or will ye not observe . . . How insolent of late he is become, How proud, how peremptory?" (Shak) 3. Proceeding from or characterised by insolence; insulting; as, insolent words or behavior. "Their insolent triumph excited . . . Indignation." (Macaulay) Synonym: Overbearing, insulting, abusive, offensive, saucy, impudent, audacious, pert, impertinent, rude, reproachful, opprobrious. Insolent, Insulting. Insolent, in its primitive sense, simply denoted unusual; and to act insolently was to act in violation of the established rules of social intercourse. He who did this was insolent; and thus the word became one of the most offensive in our language, indicating gross disregard for the feelings of others. Insulting denotes a personal attack, either in words or actions, indicative either of scorn or triumph. Compare Impertinent, Affront, Impudence. Origin: F. Insolent, L. Insolens, -entis, pref. In- not + solens accustomed, p. Pr. Of solere to be accustomed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Insolent

insociably insociate insofar insofar as insolate insolated insolates insolating insolation insolations

insole insolence insolences insolencies insolency insolently insolents insoles insolidity insolubilities

insolubility insolubilize insolubilized insolubilizes insolubilizing insoluble insoluble soap insolubleness insolublenesses

Literary usage of Insolent

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are Deduced from ...by Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson (1805)
"To make contemptuous opposition; to make insolent resistance. ... Kick; insolent and contemptuous treatment. The insolence of office, ..."

2. Original Letters Illustrative of English History: Including Numerous Royal by Henry Ellis (1846)
"John ap Hice to Secretary Cromwell upon Dr. Leigh's insolent behaviour in his Visitation. [IBID. xxxv. 60. Orig.] %* The reader will naturally ask who was ..."

3. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1843)
"... whose strength was broken, and whose faculties were perhaps impaired, by the weight ot £ hundred years ; and the insolent triumph of the Arians provoked ..."

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