malapertness

English

Alternative forms

• malepertness (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English malepertnesse; equivalent to malapert +‎ -ness.

Noun

malapertness (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) The condition of being malapert. [15th–18th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
     , II.12:

     if once it be possessed with the boldnesse to despise, and malapertnesse to impugne the opinions which tofore it held in awfull reverence […], they will soone and easily admit an equall uncertainty in all other parts of their beleefe […].