English Dictionary

PERTNESS

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pertness mean? 

PERTNESS (noun)
  The noun PERTNESS has 2 senses:

1. inappropriate playfulnessplay

2. quality of being lively and confidentplay

  Familiarity information: PERTNESS used as a noun is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


PERTNESS (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Inappropriate playfulness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

archness; impertinence; perkiness; pertness; sauciness

Hypernyms ("pertness" is a kind of...):

fun; playfulness (a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement)

Derivation:

pert (characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Quality of being lively and confident

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

there was a pertness about her that attracted him

Hypernyms ("pertness" is a kind of...):

life; liveliness; spirit; sprightliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Derivation:

pert (characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality)


 Context examples 


“Here is pertness!” cried the other.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is not our custom in Spain to reward pertness in a messenger,” Don Pedro answered, patting the head of his greyhound.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At times, too, when the wild fit was upon her, she would break into pertness and rebel openly against Alleyne's gentle firmness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Still waters run deep." (English proverb)

"The snake moves, erasing its tracks with its tail." (Albanian proverb)

"Be careful of your enemy once and of your friend a thousand times, for a double crossing friend knows more about what harms you." (Arabic proverb)

"Cover your candle, it will light more." (Egyptian proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact