Word Study
temerity
CIDE DICTIONARY
temerity, n. [L. temeritas, from temere by chance, rashly; perhaps akin to Skr. tamas darkness: cf. F. témérité.].
Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war. [1913 Webster]
"It is notorious temerity to pass sentence upon grounds uncapable of evidence." [1913 Webster]
"Her rush hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat." [1913 Webster]
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Rashness; precipitancy; heedlessness; venturesomeness.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
temerity, n.
1 rashness.
2 audacity, impudence.
1 rashness.
2 audacity, impudence.
Etymology
L temeritas f. temere rashly
THESAURUS
temerity
assurance, audacity, brashness, brass, brazen boldness, cheek, chutzpah, daring, foolhardiness, gall, hardihood, hardiness, heedlessness, heroics, hubris, impertinence, impetuosity, improvidence, imprudence, impudence, indiscretion, injudiciousness, insolence, intrusiveness, nerve, overboldness, overcarelessness, overconfidence, oversureness, overweeningness, precipitateness, rashness, recklessness, temerariousness, unchariness, unwariness, venturesomenessROGET THESAURUS
temerity
Rashness
N rashness, temerity, want of caution, imprudence, indiscretion, overconfidence, presumption, audacity, precipitancy, precipitation, impetuosity, levity, foolhardihood, foolhardiness, heedlessness, thoughtlessness, carelessness, desperation, Quixotism, knight-errantry, fire eating, gaming, gambling, blind bargain, leap in the dark, leap of faith, fool's paradise, too many eggs in one basket, desperado, rashling, madcap, daredevil, Hotspur, fire eater, bully, bravo, Hector, scapegrace, enfant perdu, Don Quixote, knight-errant, Icarus, adventurer, gambler, gamester, dynamitard, boomer, rash, incautious, indiscreet, imprudent, improvident, temerarious, uncalculating, heedless, careless, without ballast, heels over head, head over heels, giddy, wanton, reckless, wild, madcap, desperate, devil-may-care, hot-blooded, hotheaded, hotbrained, headlong, headstrong, breakneck, foolhardy, harebrained, precipitate, impulsive, overconfident, overweening, venturesome, venturous, adventurous, Quixotic, fire eating, cavalier, janty, jaunty, free and easy, off one's guard, post haste, a corps perdu, hand over head, tete baissee, headforemost, happen what may, come what may, neck or nothing, the devil being in one, non semper temeritas est felix, paucis temeritas est bono multis malo.For further exploring for "temerity" in Webster Dictionary Online