Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INSOLENT
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The Latin roots inside our word insolent literally mean "unusual" or "unfamiliar," so, why does it now mean "rude, bold, cheeky"? I assume that its meaning, at some point, simply took a flying leap. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
See if you can recall a close synonym of insolent, one whose Latin roots literally mean "badly skilled"--again, a bit of a leap in logic there, as the word actually means "rude, bold, cheeky," just like insolent. It's m_l___rt.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"INSOLENT"
Insolent people are speaking in a rude way, usually because they're being disrespectful or too relaxed.
(And insolent things are said or done with that kind of rudeness.)
Pronunciation:
IN suh lunt
Part of speech:
Adjective: "an insolent laugh," "their remarks were insolent."
Other forms:
The ones we use often are "insolently" and "insolence."
In case you were wondering if "solent" is the opposite of "insolent:" nope. "Solent" is an obsolete word meaning "usual, customary," last seen in print in 1694.
In older texts, you might see "insolent" used as a noun to mean "a person who's rude and cheeky," as in "thou art an insolent," a sick burn back in 1765.
How to use it:
When people's rudeness seems to result from their overly casual attitudes, especially toward authoritative people who deserve respect, or toward well-established rules and traditions, call them insolent.
"Insolent" is a formal word and very common. While it's often spoken in criticism, it can be spoken in praise, too, suggesting that someone's rude defiance is justified, rooted in bravery or determination.
With all that in mind, talk about insolent people and their insolent behavior, manners, gestures, comments, etc.
Occasionally we apply the word "insolent" to emotions or characteristics: "insolent glee" (Los Angeles Times), "insolent suavity" (New Yorker), "insolent vehemence" (New York Times).
examples:
"But at [the film's] heart is a fierce, insolent and compassionate Errol Flynn, the dashing embodiment of the [swashbuckling] genre, in the role of a lifetime."
— Andrew Webster, The New York Times, 10 May 2017
"In religion, and in every deeply serious view of the world and of human destiny, there is an element of submission, a realization of the limits of human power, which is somewhat lacking in the modern world, with its quick material successes and its insolent belief in the boundless possibilities of progress."
— Bertrand Russell, who wasn't always that grouchy, Contemplation and Action, 1902-1914
has this page helped you understand "insolent"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "insolent" without saying "talking in an overly bold way" or "treating other people with disrespect."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "After (hanging around certain people, or watching or reading about certain fictional characters), (someone) seems to have contracted their insolence and now (says or does something rude)."
Example: "After hanging around the drama kids, Mike seems to have contracted their insolence and now calls all his teachers 'champ.'"
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
In August, we're playing the time-honored Game of Venery!
We're inventing terms for groups of things: terms that James Lipton, the author of An Exaltation of Larks, calls "shards of poetry and truth." Example terms of venery include lovely ones like "a conflagration of fireflies" and silly ones like "a myopia of umpires," "a rash of dermatologists," and "an unemployment of graduates."
In each issue this month, I'll offer two templates. Have fun filling them in and sharing your inventions with your family, being as lofty, silly, or bawdy as you like. In each subsequent issue, I'll list the actual terms that appear in Lipton's book.
From the previous issue:
1. A phalanx of _____
2. A _____ of polluters
The terms listed in the book are "a phalanx of flashers" and "an offal of polluters."
Try these today:
1. A sesame of _____
2. A _____ of moving men
review this word:
1. The opposite of INSOLENT is
A. BUOYANT.
B. EMINENT.
C. REVERENT.
2. He delivered his presentation on _____, then _____ insolently back to his desk.
A. medieval chainmail .. lumbered
B. how the moon is made of cheese .. swaggered
C. why conspiracy theorists cling so tightly to their ideas .. slunk
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
The Latin roots inside our word insolent literally mean "unusual" or "unfamiliar," so, why does it now mean "rude, bold, cheeky"? I assume that its meaning, at some point, simply took a flying leap. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"INSOLENT" Insolent people are speaking in a rude way, usually because they're being disrespectful or too relaxed.
"But at [the film's] heart is a fierce, insolent and compassionate Errol Flynn, the dashing embodiment of the [swashbuckling] genre, in the role of a lifetime."
Explain the meaning of "insolent" without saying "talking in an overly bold way" or "treating other people with disrespect."
Fill in the blanks: "After (hanging around certain people, or watching or reading about certain fictional characters), (someone) seems to have contracted their insolence and now (says or does something rude)."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The opposite of INSOLENT is
|