dares

Variant of dare

dare definition

dare (der, dar)

intransitive verb dared, daring dar′·ing, dare or dares

to have enough courage or audacity for some act; be fearless; venture

Etymology: ME dar, der < OE dear, dearr, 1st pers. sing., pres. indic. of durran, to dare < IE base *dhers-, to dare > Gr tharsein, to be bold

transitive verb

  1. to have courage for; venture upon he will dare any danger
  2. to oppose and defy; face he dared the wrath of the tyrant
  3. to challenge (someone) to do something hard, dangerous, or rash, esp. as a test of courage

noun

a challenge to do a hard, dangerous, or rash thing, esp. as a test of courage

Related Forms:

dare Idioms

dare say

to think likely; suppose I dare say you're right

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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