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Derring-do is a quirky holdover from Middle English that came to occupy its present place in the language by a series of mistakes and misunderstandings. In Middle English, dorring don meant simply "daring to do." The phrase was misprinted as derrynge do in a 15th-century work by poet John Lydgate, and Edmund Spenser took it up from there. (A glossary to Spenser's work defined it as "manhood and chevalrie.") Literary author Sir Walter Scott and others brought the noun into modern use.
Examples of derring-do in a Sentence
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Much derring-do, in their quest for unimaginable riches, would ensue.
—
Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Cartoons, on the other hand, might be the most natural format for the superhero adaptation, providing a more liberating canvas and allowing for all manner of fantastic derring-do without the limiting factor of having to stuff real people in the frame.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
The main appeal of these films has always been the relationship between Eddie and Venom, his alien pal who frequently pops out to say hello and crack wise, and who can take over Eddie’s body with his tar-like mass and giant teeth for various feats of strength and derring-do.
—Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024
But a few minutes in, with crashes of sound and light and color and the scrolling of movie-style credits, Lloyd signals that the minimalism of his other productions will be augmented with here-and-there flashes of theatrical derring-do that sets Blvd.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
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Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Cartoons, on the other hand, might be the most natural format for the superhero adaptation, providing a more liberating canvas and allowing for all manner of fantastic derring-do without the limiting factor of having to stuff real people in the frame.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
The main appeal of these films has always been the relationship between Eddie and Venom, his alien pal who frequently pops out to say hello and crack wise, and who can take over Eddie’s body with his tar-like mass and giant teeth for various feats of strength and derring-do.
—Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024
But a few minutes in, with crashes of sound and light and color and the scrolling of movie-style credits, Lloyd signals that the minimalism of his other productions will be augmented with here-and-there flashes of theatrical derring-do that sets Blvd.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for derring-do
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Cite this Entry
“Derring-do.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derring-do. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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