THE FIRST WORD

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.