Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » malapert

malapert

(mal′ə pʉrt′)

adjective

Archaic saucy; impudent; pert

Origin: OFr < mal, badly (see mal-) + appert, var. of espert, experienced, deft (see expert): infl. by apert, open, bold (< L apertus: see aperture)

noun

Archaic a saucy, impudent person

Related Forms:

malapertly adverb

See malapert in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Impudently bold in speech or manner; saucy.

noun

An impudent, saucy person.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: : mal-, mal-

Origin: + apert, clever

Origin: , alteration (influenced by apert, clever, saucy; see pert)

Origin: of Latin expertus; see expert

Related Forms:

malˈa·pertˌly adverb

malˈa·pertˌness noun

Learn more about malapert

malapert synonyms

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD