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Apr 5, 2013
This week's theme
Words to describe people

This week's words
magnanimous
percipient
sagacious
temerarious
malapert

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Next week's theme
Terms from law
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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

malapert

PRONUNCIATION:
(MAL-uh-puhrt)

MEANING:
adjective: Boldly disrespectful.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Old French mal- (bad, wrong) + apert (bold, insolent, clever), from Latin apertus (open). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to cover), which also gave us overt, cover, warranty, warren, garage, garret, garment, garrison, garnish, guarantee, and pert. Earliest documented use: 1400.

USAGE:
"Malapert and cheeky, she gazed up at him."
Susan Johnson; Wicked; Bantam Books; 1996.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
What is the purpose of the giant sequoia tree? The purpose of the giant sequoia tree is to provide shade for the tiny titmouse. -Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (1927-1989)

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