Skip to content
Vinony

insolent

adjective

  1. insulting, impudent
L337788 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɪn.sə.lənt/

adj

Etymology: PIE word *swé From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin īnsolēns (“unaccustomed, unwanted, unusual, immoderate, excessive, arrogant, insolent”), from in- (privative prefix) + solēns, present participle of solēre (“to be accustomed, to be wont”).

  1. Insulting in manner or words, particularly in an arrogant or insubordinate manner.

    “Near-synonyms: arrogant, bold, cocky; see also Thesaurus:cheeky”

  2. Rude.

    “Near-synonyms: insubordinate, offensive; see also Thesaurus:arrogant”

    “insolent behaviour”

noun

Etymology: PIE word *swé From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin īnsolēns (“unaccustomed, unwanted, unusual, immoderate, excessive, arrogant, insolent”), from in- (privative prefix) + solēns, present participle of solēre (“to be accustomed, to be wont”).

  1. A person who is insolent.

    “What a way do you put yourself in miss! said the insolent.”

    “Diogenes Laertius reports that Diogenes was apt to take the identification with the dog at face value, as when he lifted his leg and relieved himself on a group of young insolents who teased him with a dog's bone […]”