Middle English Dictionary Entry
malapert adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | malapert adj. Also maleapert, malepert. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. apert.
1.
(a) Impudent, shameless, presumptuous; (b) impudence personified; also, personal name.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.87 : Criseyde..loved hym..Al nere he malapert [vr. maleapert] or made it tough.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2889 : The Ethiopien..Wex malapert, and, of presumpcioun, To be maad kniht the kyng he gan requeere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)322 : Malapert: Effrons.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)412 : Presumptuowse, or bolde, or malapert: Presumptuosus.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4423 : He, malepert & irreuerent, Presumyd to entryn in-to þat lyht clere Where she was yn.
- c1450 Dice(1) (Frf 16)45 : Ye ben so bolde, Bothe malapert and ful of ignoraunce.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)73/4 : Of þi-self takyst þou non hede, but evermore demyst oþeres defawtys; all þis is malapert boldnesse.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)148/26 : Þe secunde is veyn woordys, male-apert, in iangeling, in tellyng of thynges.
- (1455) RParl.5.332b : Edmund, late Duc of Somerset..and William Joseph, of their grete and maleperte presumpcion, excited..the high excellence of the King, [etc.].
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)231 : The Commaunte asked eke that Dame Alis Pereres schuld be remeved oute of the Kyngis hous, as a woman malepert and entermenting in every mater.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)237 : Her duke was Wat Tyler, a proude knave and malapert.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)45 : Lyk a iay enfomyned in hys cage, Malapert [vr. Maleapert] of cheer and off vysage.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)503 : They swere gret othes for the noonys Her lawe to dyspyce, that was so malapert.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3255 : Nichanore smoot Male-aperte Þorouȝ þe breny and þorouȝ þe herte.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.237 : Þus Malaperte was myȝtffull and maister of hous, And euere wandrid Wisdom without þe ȝatis.