impertinent

****************************************************************
Do you enjoy challenging word games? Try WORD SWEEP!, the new board game 
featuring official Merriam-Webster definitions!
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780971348769&itm=2
 
****************************************************************

The Word of the Day for May 28 is: 

impertinent   \im-PER-tuh-nunt\   adjective
     1 : not pertinent : irrelevant 
     2 *a : not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety 
or good taste  b : given to or characterized by insolent rudeness 

Example sentence:
     Clearly offended, Susan refused to answer an impertinent question about 
her marriage.

Did you know?
     English speakers adopted both "impertinent" and "pertinent" from 
Anglo-French in the 14th century. Both words derive from the present participle 
of the Latin verb "pertinere," meaning "to pertain." Initially, "impertinent" 
was used for things that are simply not relevant. Over time, it came to be used 
of things that are not only irrelevant but rudely or inappropriately so, and 
later for people who are just straight-out rude. 

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. 





You Are Subscribed As: gclw-mw-wod7@xxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to subscribe to the html
version of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, featuring audio
pronunciations, please visit:

http://mw.drhinternet.net/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphtml

(c) 2007 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster, Inc.
47 Federal Street
P.O. Box 281
Springfield, MA 01102