effrontery

Definition

Insolent and shameless audacity.

Etymology

From late 17th century French effronterie, from effronté (“shameless, insolent”), from Old French esfronté, from Vulgar Latin *exfrontātus. Compare Latin effrōns (“barefaced”), from the prefix ex- (“from”) + frōns (“forehead”) (English: front). By surface analysis, ef- + front + -er + -y.

Example Sentences

• "We even had the effrontery to suggest that he should leave the country."
• "Let not the Englishman in Scotland believe that the undoffed hat, the curt reply, the apparent assumption of equality, all spring from deliberate effrontery, and are wholly beyond the reach of southern influence."
• "Any refusal to salute the president shall be counted as an effrontery."

Related Words