English edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Middle English impertinent, from Middle French impertinent, from Old French impertinent, from Latin impertinēns; by surface analysis, im- +‎ pertinent.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɪm.ˈpɜː.tɪ.nənt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɪm.ˈpɝ.tɪ.nənt/, (rare) /ɪm.ˈpɝt.nənt/
  • (file)

Adjective edit

impertinent (comparative more impertinent, superlative most impertinent)

  1. Insolent, ill-mannered.
  2. Irrelevant, useless.
    Antonyms: pertinent, relevant
    • 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: [], 8th edition, London: [] T. Goodwin, B[enjamin] Tooke, and J. Pemberton, []; J. Round [], and J[acob] Tonson] [], published 1720, →OCLC:
      Curious speculations, and the contemplation of things that are impertinent to us, and do not concern us, nor serve to promote our happiness, are but a more specious and ingenious sort of idleness
    • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. [], 2nd edition, London: [] Francis Ashe [], →OCLC:
      How impertinent that grief was which served no end!

Usage notes edit

  • Although definition 2 was the original meaning (derived from the French), the meaning gradually changed to definition 1. More recently, general usage has come to once again incorporate definition 2, though older speakers may consider definition 2 incorrect. The construction "not pertinent" is one possible alternative.

Synonyms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

impertinent (plural impertinents)

  1. An impertinent individual.
    • 1808 (date written), [Maria] Edgeworth, “Manœuvring. Chapter XII.”, in Tales of Fashionable Life, volume III, London: [] [S. Hamilton] for J[oseph] Johnson, [], published 1809, →OCLC, page 292:
      Get near fat Mr. Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow, you will be comfortably recessed from curious impertinents.

Dutch edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

impertinent (comparative impertinenter, superlative impertinentst)

  1. insolent, ill-mannered

Inflection edit

Inflection of impertinent
uninflected impertinent
inflected impertinente
comparative impertinenter
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial impertinent impertinenter het impertinentst
het impertinentste
indefinite m./f. sing. impertinente impertinentere impertinentste
n. sing. impertinent impertinenter impertinentste
plural impertinente impertinentere impertinentste
definite impertinente impertinentere impertinentste
partitive impertinents impertinenters

French edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Late Latin impertinentem. Morphologically, from in- +‎ pertinent.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

impertinent (feminine impertinente, masculine plural impertinents, feminine plural impertinentes)

  1. insolent, ill-mannered
    Synonyms: insolent, effronté

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

German edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

impertinent (strong nominative masculine singular impertinenter, comparative impertinenter, superlative am impertinentesten)

  1. insolent, ill-mannered

Declension edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French impertinent, from Latin impertinens. Equivalent to in- +‎ pertinent.

Adjective edit

impertinent m or n (feminine singular impertinentă, masculine plural impertinenți, feminine and neuter plural impertinente)

  1. impertinent

Declension edit