dare

DARE

Use dare in a sentence

noun

The definition of a dare is a challenge to do something.
An example of a dare is a challenge to scream very loudly in a public place.

verb

Dare is defined as to have courage or to challenge someone to do something that requires courage.
An example of to dare is to go out in the dark to find a lost friend.

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"dare." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE>.

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dare. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE

dare

intransitive verb

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

Origin of dare

Middle English dar, der from Old English dear, dearr, 1st person; personal (grammar) singular , present tense indicative of durran, to dare from Indo-European base an unverified form dhers-, to dare from source Classical Greek tharsein, to be bold

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

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

dare Idioms

dare say

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

Dare

born 1587; 1st child born in America of Eng. parents

DARE

Dictionary of American Regional English

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MLA Style

"dare." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE>.

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dare. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE

dare

verb

dared, dar·ing, dares

verb

transitive

To have the courage required for: The gymnast dared a breathtakingly difficult move.
To challenge (someone) to do something requiring boldness: They dared me to dive off the high board.
To confront boldly; brave: dared the dizzying heights of the mountain. See Synonyms at defy.

verb

intransitive

To be courageous or bold enough to do or try something: Go ahead and dive if you dare.

verb

aux.

To be courageous or bold enough to: I dare not say. How dare she go?

noun

An act of daring; a challenge.

Origin of dare

Middle English daren from Old English dearr first and third person sing. present indicative of durran to venture, dare ; see dhers- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

dar′er
noun

Usage Note: Depending on its sense, the verb dare sometimes behaves like an auxiliary verb (such as can or may ) and sometimes like a main verb (such as want or try ). When used as an auxiliary verb, dare does not change to agree with its subject: He dare not do that again. It also does not combine with do in questions, negations, or certain other constructions: Dare we tell her the truth? I dare not mention their names. Finally, it does not take to before the verb that follows it: If you dare breathe a word about it, I'll never speak to you again. When used as a main verb, dare does agree with its subject ( If he dares to show up at her house I'll be surprised ), and it does combine with do ( Did anyone dare to admit it? ). It may optionally take to before the verb following it: No one dares (or dares to ) speak freely about the political situation. The auxiliary forms differ subtly in meaning from the main verb forms in that they emphasize the attitude or involvement of the speaker while the main verb forms present a more objective situation. Thus How dare you operate this machinery without proper training? expresses indignation at the action, whereas How do you dare to operate this machinery without proper training? is a genuine request for information. When dare is used as a transitive verb meaning “challenge,” only main verb forms are possible and to is required: Anyone who dares him to attempt it will be sorry.

DARE

abbreviation

Dictionary of American Regional English

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"dare." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE>.

APA Style

dare. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE

Verb

(third-person singular simple present dare or dares, present participle daring, simple past and past participle dared)

(intransitive) To have enough courage (to do something).
I wouldn't dare argue with my boss.
To defy or challenge (someone to do something)
I dare you to kiss that girl.
To have enough courage to meet or do something, go somewhere, etc.; to face up to
Will you dare death to reach your goal?
To terrify; to daunt.
To catch (larks) by producing terror through the use of mirrors, scarlet cloth, a hawk, etc., so that they lie still till a net is thrown over them.

Usage notes

Dare is a semimodal verb. The speaker can choose whether to use the auxiliary "to" when forming negative and interrogative sentences. For example, "I don't dare (to) go" and "I dare not go" are both correct. Similarly "Dare you go?" and "Do you dare (to) go?" are both correct.
In negative and interrogative sentences where "do" is not used, the third-person singular form of the verb is usually "dare" and not "dares": "Dare he go? He dare not go."
Colloquially, "dare not" can be contracted to "daren't".
The expression dare say, used almost exclusively in the first-person singular and in the present tense, means "think probable". It is also spelt daresay.
Historically, the simple past of dare was durst. In the 1830s, it was overtaken by dared, which has been markedly more common ever since.

Noun

(plural dares)

A challenge to prove courage.
The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness.
defiance; challenge

Origin

From Old English durran, from Proto-Germanic *durzaną, from Proto-Indo-European. Cognate with Ancient Greek θαρσεῖν (tharsein), Lithuanian drįsti.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present dares, present participle daring, simple past and past participle dared)

(obsolete) To stare stupidly or vacantly; to gaze as though amazed or terrified. [13th-16th c.]
(obsolete) To lie or crouch down in fear. [13th-16th c.]

Origin

Old English darian.

Noun

(plural dares)

A small fish, the dace.

Anagrams

dear, 'eard, rade, Read, read

See also: dåre

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"dare." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE>.

APA Style

dare. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/DARE

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