pert

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   boldly disrespectful or impudent in a lively way; saucy

   The witness gave a pert reply that annoyed the judge.

2. 2
   adj

   lively, confident, and attractively neat or stylish

   She wore a pert little hat tilted over one eye.

An aphetic form of Middle English apert, 'open, evident, bold,' from Old French apert and Latin apertus, 'open.' Its positive sense 'lively or smart' and negative sense 'impudently bold' developed from that older idea of openness.

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