pert

adj

Etymology: From Middle English pert, perte, aphetic form of apert.

1. Attractive.
2. Well-formed; shapely.

   “pert breasts”

3. Lively; alert and cheerful; bright.

   “Goe Philoſtrate, / Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments, / Awake the peart and nimble ſpirit of mirth, / Turne melancholy foorth to funerals: […]”

   “He was instantly attracted to Gladys's pert, fey humor and her good nature.”

4. Especially of children or social inferiors: cheeky, impertinent.

   “Says Mrs. Jervis, Pamela, don’t be pert to his Honour? You ſhould know your Diſtance; you ſee his Honour was only in Jeſt.”

   “[T]he Major began to think that Pen was growing exceedingly pert and conceited, and that the world made a great deal too much of him.”

5. Open; evident; unhidden.

   “Some parled as perte · as prouyd well after, / And clappid more ffor þe coyne · þat þe kyng oweth hem / Thanne ffor comfforte of þe comyne […]”

6. Clever.

noun

1. Acronym of program evaluation and review technique.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English pert, perte, aphetic form of apert.

1. To behave with pertness; to misbehave.