English Dictionary

IMPERTINENT

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does impertinent mean? 

IMPERTINENT (adjective)
  The adjective IMPERTINENT has 3 senses:

1. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant qualityplay

2. not pertinent to the matter under considerationplay

3. improperly forward or boldplay

  Familiarity information: IMPERTINENT used as an adjective is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


IMPERTINENT (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

Synonyms:

impertinent; irreverent; pert; saucy

Context example:

a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner

Similar:

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

Derivation:

impertinence (inappropriate playfulness)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Not pertinent to the matter under consideration

Synonyms:

extraneous; immaterial; impertinent; orthogonal

Context example:

mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point

Similar:

irrelevant (having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Improperly forward or bold

Synonyms:

fresh; impertinent; impudent; overbold; sassy; saucy; smart; wise

Context example:

Don't get wise with me!

Similar:

forward (used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty)

Derivation:

impertinence (the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties)


 Context examples 


I hope they are not so impertinent as to follow us.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

"You impertinent boy! Of course I'm not," exclaimed Sallie, with an air that proved the contrary.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Certainly; it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to trouble you with any inquisitiveness of mine.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

‘Jephro,’ said she, ‘there is an impertinent fellow upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.’

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It may seem impertinent in me to praise, but I must admire the taste Mrs. Grant has shewn in all this.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I feel that I should certainly have been impertinent.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

If the impertinent remarks of Mrs. Jennings are to be the proof of impropriety in conduct, we are all offending every moment of our lives.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

My dear, said Mr. Micawber, with some heat, it may be better for me to state distinctly, at once, that if I were to develop my views to that assembled group, they would possibly be found of an offensive nature: my impression being that your family are, in the aggregate, impertinent Snobs; and, in detail, unmitigated Ruffians.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They are very often amazingly impertinent if you do not treat them with spirit, and make them keep their distance.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Time flies when you're having a good time." (English proverb)

"Drop by drop - a whole lake becomes." (Bulgarian proverb)

"The greatest poorness is the lack of brains." (Arabic proverb)

"May problems with neighbors last only as long as snow in March." (Corsican proverb)



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