protervity

noun

pro·​ter·​vi·​ty

prəˈtərvətē

plural -es

1

: a petulant manner : peevishness

2

: insolent sauciness

Word History

Etymology

Latin protervitas, from protervus forward, bold, impudent, flighty (probably alteration of protervus, from pro- forward + -ptervus —akin to Greek petesthai to fly) + -itas -ity

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