effrontery

Word Origin & History

1715, from French effronterie, from effronté "shameless," from Old French esfronte "shameless, brazen," probably from Late Latin effrontem (nominative effrons) "barefaced," from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + frontem (nominative frons) "brow" (see front (n.)).

Latin frontus had a sense of "ability to blush," but the literal sense of effrontery often has been taken to be "putting forth the forehead." Forehead in Johnson's Dictionary (1755) has a secondary sense of "impudence; confidence; assurance; audaciousness; audacity."

Example Sentences foreffrontery

You know that Milbrey girl must get her effrontery direct from where they make it.

I could not but reflect how shocked our King would be to learn of this effrontery.

Will you have the effrontery to tell me that is the coast of Curacao?

He stumbled away to wash his hands, utterly crushed by her effrontery.

He stared at me a moment, as if my effrontery astonished him.

The hunting of the one is carried on with self-restraint, of the others with effrontery.

Even Ina Vandeman's effrontery wouldn't carry her to a finish on that.

There was a dash of heroism in their effrontery that pleased her.

The odious woman had the effrontery to tell us so to our faces.

Effrontery, properly managed, is one of the most valuable of all qualities.

effrontery

profligacy

pushiness

recalcitrance

recalcitrancy

rudeness

sassiness

sauciness

temerariousness

effrontery

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