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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Impertinence


IMPER'TINENCE

IMPER'TINENCY, noun [Latin impertinens; in and pertinens, pertineo, to pertain; per and teneo, to hold.]

1. That which is not pertinent; that which does not belong to the subject in hand; that which is of no weight.

2. The state of not being pertinent.

3. Folly; rambling thought. [Little Used.]

4. Rudeness; improper intrusion; interference by word or conduct which is not consistent with the age or station of the person. [This is the most usual sense.]

We should avoid the vexation and impertinence of pedants.

5. A trifle, a thing of little or no value.

There are many subtile impertinencies learnt in schools-