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impertinent
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  • She can sometimes be a bit impertinent," the girl's mother said.†   (source)
  • Wren," the man on crutches said, "would you be so kind as to show this impertinent young man the reliquary of ashes?"†   (source)
  • 'Nothing whatsoever,' said Phineas Nigellus, raising a thin black eyebrow as though he found Harry impertinent.†   (source)
  • They'll think you're impertinent.†   (source)
  • 1: contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech.†   (source)
  • The king had claimed that magic was an affront to the Goddess and her gods—that to wield it was to impertinently imitate their power.†   (source)
  • Emily wondered if they were being impertinent, for each twin seemed to behave as though his social obligations were halved.†   (source)
  • Uncle stamped his foot at this impertinent thought.†   (source)
  • My lord father would call that insolence, and send you to the mines for impertinence.†   (source)
  • "Is the I for 'illustrious' or perhaps 'impertinent'?"†   (source)
  • Of course, I often forget my role and find it impossible to curb my anger when they're unfair, so that they spend the next month saying the most impertinent girl in the world.†   (source)
  • "I will thank you not to be impertinent," Aunt Josephine said, using a word which here means "pointing out that I'm wrong, which annoys me."†   (source)
  • "If I start calling you Kate now when it's just the two of us, I might slip up in public, and that'd be seen as impertinent."†   (source)
  • He dismissed them as "childish, vulgar, flaunting, or impertinent, out of place and discordant."†   (source)
  • Such impertinence!†   (source)
  • "And let me tell you," Basta whispered to Meggie before he knocked on the door, "if you're as impertinent to Mortola as you are to me she'll leave you in one of those nets in the church until you're so hungry you'll be gnawing at the ropes.†   (source)
  • Margaret Kochamma shook her a little for her impertinence.†   (source)
  • Some of the men hanging about had taken a good many more than one glass, and were shabbily dressed and impertinent, and came up to the coach where I sat, and tried to look under the rim of my bonnet.†   (source)
  • The inspector, astonished at his own impertinence, attempted to make excuses for him.†   (source)
  • I think he sounds a bit too impertinent.†   (source)
  • Otherwise, they go on and on, asking the most impertinent questions.†   (source)
  • Elouise, the daughter of the Baptist minister, recited "Invictus," and I could have cried at the impertinence of "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."†   (source)
  • I don't mean to sound impertinent, for I'm glad you approve, but I didn't expect you to look kindly upon my decision to spare Sloan's life.†   (source)
  • But not before Perry had visited the Las Vegas post office, where he claimed a package addressed to himself in care of General Delivery-the large cardboard box he had mailed from Mexico, and had insured for a hundred dollars, a sum exceeding to an impertinent extent the value of the contents, which were suntans and denim pants, worn shirts, underwear, and two pairs of steel-buckled boots.†   (source)
  • Khanum Shaheen scowled at this impertinence.†   (source)
  • The Illustrated Man did not nod or blink, but stared until the janitor wanted to turn away, but did not, and simply gazed as calmly as possible at the impertinent intruder.†   (source)
  • I knew that I could react in one of two ways: I could scold them for their impertinence or I could listen to what they were saying.†   (source)
  • Do not have the impertinence to ask me when.†   (source)
  • He also had not taken offense at Miro's anger and impertinence.†   (source)
  • Jones decided to risk an impertinence.†   (source)
  • " "You're a damn impertinent man," Weaver said.†   (source)
  • Then you may do without breakfast as well, for your impertinence.†   (source)
  • The impertinence of children.†   (source)
  • Forgive her, Esteban, the child's always been impertinent.†   (source)
  • Corporal Whitcomb sauntered back in wearing a shiny new smirk and leaned his elbow impertinently against the center pole of the chaplain's tent.†   (source)
  • I asked her to show the guest upstairs, but Yonggang's eyes went to my daughter-in-law and daughter, who were embroidering together, and shook her head no. This was either impertinence on Yonggang's part or something more serious.†   (source)
  • For his impertinence W.W. got a boot in his stomach.†   (source)
  • "Never mind your impertinence," she said.†   (source)
  • Bourne palmed the napkin along with a hundred-franc note and signaled the bartender, who adjusted his steel-rimmed glasses as if the unknown patron's gesture were an impertinence.†   (source)
  • The rector of the school thought him impertinent and merited a thrashing, as he informed his father.†   (source)
  • She had a homely face, a bad complexion and a look of impertinent condescension derived from the fact that she belonged to one of the very best families.†   (source)
  • We won't be impertinent enough actually to ask the English, "Do you speak American?†   (source)
  • GIRL What a cheek, what impertinence!†   (source)
  • There was nothing illegal or impertinent about where I had parked, nothing at all.†   (source)
  • Miss McCleethy does not grant us an answer to the impertinent question.†   (source)
  • Steele, sir," conducted many of the lessons and proved to be a strict task master who did not tolerate impertinent questions or the wandering attention of his pupils.†   (source)
  • She had asked him to call her Bess, even, but that would have felt impertinent; she had to be in her forties.†   (source)
  • It couldn't slay the impertinent human, though the demon would have truly savored such an act.†   (source)
  • The pilot grimaced as if he were a small boy who had been justly rebuked for an impertinence.†   (source)
  • "If you're so sure," said an impertinent girl, perhaps the one with the disdainful chin, "why don't you go out there and take a look?"†   (source)
  • Nor do I agree with the idea that "in the presence of certain realities art is trivial or impertinent."†   (source)
  • From the moment she stepped off the train she's been nothing but a burden, incompetent, impertinent, ineffectual, immodest—†   (source)
  • POZZO: I am impertinent.†   (source)
  • " "If it isn't impertinent to ask, when is your baby due?"†   (source)
  • The argument was interrupted by Tiverzin, who disliked Liberius's impertinent tone.†   (source)
  • CATHLEEN Talks more familiarly than usual but never with intentional impertinence because she sincerely likes her mistress.†   (source)
  • Such a resolution, he somewhat impertinently argued, was improper if not unconstitutional by "tending to unsuitable discussions of character, and to debates altogether foreign to the subjects which properly belong" in the Senate.†   (source)
  • He spoke in English, which as a rule she would have flamed into temper over; she thought it impertinence.†   (source)
  • He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.   (source)
  • mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
  • I like him on the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is sometimes impertinent and troublesome.   (source)
  • He deemed all such inquiries on the part of a slave improper and impertinent, and evidence of a restless spirit.   (source)
  • What impertinence!   (source)
    impertinence = rude or improperly bold behavior
  • "What impertinence!" her aunt said to him.†   (source)
  • 'Aiya!' screamed Pak-fei at the man's impertinence.†   (source)
  • This is hardly the place or the time for impertinence.†   (source)
  • She can get away with a little impertinence, with coltish liberties.†   (source)
  • Strike it; let your foolish impertinence be revealed!†   (source)
  • Biggrin is a wise leader," Kessell shot back, angered at the demon's impertinence.†   (source)
  • They decided it was some impertinence, that he was mimicking them and making fun of them.†   (source)
  • "If we're finished, I'm afraid I must take my leave," interrupted Dorian from beside her, and her head snapped up at the sound of his voice—and his impertinence in interrupting his father.†   (source)
  • In it he begged her pardon for the impertinence of attempting to visit her without first obtaining her permission, and he promised never to return.†   (source)
  • Dorian, realizing how close he was to crossing a boundary between impertinence and rebellion—a boundary that he'd been very, very careful to maintain—mumbled his apologies.†   (source)
  • They worked at the oddest hours, with an impertinence that did not seem unintentional, and they offered the same response to all his protests: "Orders from the head office."†   (source)
  • In any case, what most calmed her spirit was the certainty that this letter from a wise old man was not an attempt to repeat the impertinence of the night of the vigil over the body but a very noble way of erasing the past.†   (source)
  • Fermina Daza chewed on the impertinence as she looked at the nun without blinking, looked her straight in the eye without speaking, chewing in silence, until she saw with infinite satisfaction that those masculine eyes had filled with tears.†   (source)
  • He even observed the changes in her breathing, watching the reliquary that hung on her batiste blouse as he looked at her without dissimulation over the book he pretended to read, and he committed the calculated impertinence of changing his seat in the dining room so that he would face her.†   (source)
  • He was not the pitiable phantom who had haunted her in the Park of the Evangels and whom she had evoked with a certain tenderness after she had grown old, but the hateful phantom with his executioner's frock coat and his hat held against his chest, whose thoughtless impertinence had disturbed her so much that she found it impossible not to think about him.†   (source)
  • Her mother and sisters suffered so much from the fear that the child would do something wrong during the ceremony that in the end they were the ones who committed the impertinence of picking her up to kiss her.†   (source)
  • Then, after a moment, Dahwar said, "Please excuse my impertinence, sir, for I am ignorant of the ways of the Riders, but are you not human?†   (source)
  • Impertinence!†   (source)
  • "So are your very secret substations in Beijing, Kabul and-forgive my impertinence-Canada's Prince Edward Island, but you don't advertise them," said Krupkin.†   (source)
  • This operation," Miro said, and fell silent, turning to the slit in the window once more, afraid that he would see anger in Artkin's eyes at his impertinence.†   (source)
  • A young man with a look of chronic hurt and impertinence together, rushed up to him, crying, "I couldn't help it, Mr. Rearden!" and launched into a speech of explanation.†   (source)
  • Hit by a sudden, blinding hatred, in rebellion against the weed's impertinence, knowing of what enemy this was the scout, she ran forward, she fell on her knees and jerked the weed up by its roots.†   (source)
  • Taut like a string pulled by anger against the impertinence at one end and by admiration for the frankness at the other, Rearden answered, "I'll admit it, if you wish.†   (source)
  • More intrigued than angered at the impertinence of some mortal daring to utter its name, Errtu slipped away from the distracted wizard and moved outside Cryshal-Tirith.†   (source)
  • You proclaim that you need us, yet indulge the impertinence of asserting your right to rule us by force-and expect that we, who are not afraid of that physical nature which fills you with terror, will cower at the sight of any lout who has talked you into voting him a chance to command us.†   (source)
  • Rearden noted that if he had resented as impertinence Francisco's manner of proprietorship in his office, he himself was now guilty of the same attitude-because he offered no explanation for his visit, but crossed the room and sat down in an armchair, casually, as if he were at home.†   (source)
  • This was the Ken Danagger who had never had a personal friend, had never married, had never attended a play or a movie, had never permitted anyone the impertinence of taking his time for any concern but business.†   (source)
  • There were shifting figures in half-lighted, disordered offices, there were too many firearms on everybody's hips, there were senseless questions asked of him by jerky voices that alternated between impertinence and fear.†   (source)
  • The unnatural pallor of the moonlight seemed to dissolve the differences of their faces and to stress the quality they all had in common: a look of cautious appraisal, part fear, part plea, part impertinence held in abeyance.†   (source)
  • Rearden realized suddenly, for the first time, that Danneskjold's face was more than handsome, that it had the startling beauty of physical perfection-the hard, proud features, the scornful mouth of a Viking's statue-yet he had not been aware of it, almost as if the dead sternness of the face had forbidden the impertinence of an appraisal.†   (source)
  • …matter and spirit, a soul that seeks above all else to achieve its own moral perfection, valuing nothing higher than itself-and that the proof of an achieved self-esteem is your soul's shudder of contempt and rebellion against the role of a sacrificial animal, against the vile impertinence of any creed that proposes to immolate the irreplaceable value which is your consciousness and the incomparable glory which is your existence to the blind evasions and the stagnant decay of others.†   (source)
  • Bennington agreed, but there was something in his eyes that told me I had earned the enmity of a man who would never forget my impertinence, a man who would not rest until the wolves cut my flanks from behind.†   (source)
  • The slow deliberation of his movements galled her, because of her own lost control; and when he handed the glass to her she did not lift her hand to take it, feeling that his action was an impertinence which she should choose to ignore.†   (source)
  • This world of ignominy and fraud, in which an overfed lady had the impertinence to stare right through a crowd of working-men and where a drink-sodden victim of such an order found pleasure in torturing his comrades-this world was now more hateful to him than ever before.†   (source)
  • "He is neither impertinent nor pertinent," said Sophie.†   (source)
  • She was a haughty, vulgar, utterly impertinent assassin.†   (source)
  • It was prying, and a bit impertinent—and she regretted the question the second it came out.†   (source)
  • " "Ain't that what I said that you thought was so impertinent?"†   (source)
  • She looked at Shiva as if his question was impertinent.†   (source)
  • Don't be impertinent with me, cadet," she said.†   (source)
  • No one is to speak impertinently or beside the question, superfluously or tediously.†   (source)
  • I have many questions, most of them impertinent.†   (source)
  • Orr grumbled impertinently in a voice slurred with fatigue.†   (source)
  • I also find you insultingand impertinent.†   (source)
  • The crowd hushed, expecting the ruthless king to slay the impertinent youth at once.†   (source)
  • This time the knock on the door was most impertinently loud.†   (source)
  • Impertinent," said a soft voice from one of the portraits on the wall, and Phineas Nigellus Black, Sirius's great-great-grandfather, raised his head from his arms where he had appeared to be sleeping.†   (source)
  • Having refused what I considered an impertinent request, I could see that my personal safety was in jeopardy.†   (source)
  • "I am impertinent," I said.†   (source)
  • "— mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent — " "You see what you expect to see, Severus," said Dumbledore, without raising his eyes from a copy of Transfiguration Today.†   (source)
  • Nancy told me he'd been there only a week or so, and although he was prompt enough when Mr. Kinnear was giving the orders he appeared to have a grudge against her, and was impertinent; and I said that possibly his grudge was against the world, because he had been short with me as well.†   (source)
  • He venerated Snape, the first Slytherin headmaster since he himself had controlled the school, and they had to be careful not to criticize or ask impertinent questions about Snape, or Phineas Nigellus would instantly leave his painting.†   (source)
  • This rubbishy "Neuro-hypnotism," however beribboned with new terminologies, is only Mesmerism, or Animal Magnetism, re-writ; and that sickly nonsense was discredited long ago, as being merely a solemn-sounding blind, behind which men of questionable antecedents and salacious natures might obtain power over young women of the same, asking them impertinent and offensive questions and ordering them to perform immodest acts, without the latter appearing to consent to it.†   (source)
  • No doubt it would have felt strange, impertinent even, but after all it had been common knowledge that Dumbledore had taken part in that legendary duel with Grindelwald, and Harry had not thought to ask Dumbledore what that had been like, nor about any of his other famous achievements.†   (source)
  • He did not want to ruin the memory with an impertinent greeting: he was satisfied with the almost unreal vision that he would keep for the rest of his life.†   (source)
  • "Don't be impertinent.†   (source)
  • Don't be impertinent.†   (source)
  • Folds of lichen cracked underneath Eragon's fingers as he gripped the edge of the rock basin and suppressed the urge to make an impertinent remark about how any well-equipped warrior ought to have a sword or another weapon to rely upon besides a spear.†   (source)
  • "I'd say that's rather impertinent-"†   (source)
  • It is far below the dignity of the President of the United States to take any notice of Talleyrand's impertinent regrets, and insinuations of superfluities," Adams lectured.†   (source)
  • He had been able to create a dozen excuses to validate his choice of sending the giants, but in truth, he had sent Biggrin's people more to illustrate his undeniable command to himself, to the shard, and to the impertinent demon, than for any possible military gains.†   (source)
  • He wondered whether he imagined that the look on Dr. Ferris' face now seemed less tense-and more impertinent.†   (source)
  • I saw them reaching into my soul, just as they reach into Mulligan's pocket, reaching to expropriate the value of my person, just as they reach to expropriate his wealth-I saw the impertinent malice of mediocrity boastfully holding up its own emptiness as an abyss to be filled by the bodies of its betters-I saw them seeking, just as they seek to feed on Mulligan's money, to feed on those hours when I wrote my music and on that which made me write it, seeking to gnaw their way to…†   (source)
  • These resourceful, selfconfident, masterful characters-in practical things they are invaluable, but in matters of feeling I can think of nothing more horrible than all this impertinent, male complacency!†   (source)
  • He makes you feel it would be an impertinence to like him.†   (source)
  • Franklin had the impertinence to suggest that she might be a comfort to me.†   (source)
  • Impertinence to a teacher was almost a reformatory offense in Brooklyn.†   (source)
  • Gerald upbraided Pork for his impertinence, but he knew that he was right.†   (source)
  • The impertinence of it amused Wynand, as Toohey had known it would.†   (source)
  • He prayed in thirty-minute prayers without impertinence for all men and the success of all good ventures.†   (source)
  • 'Really,' I thought, 'when I think of all the hullabaloo there was when I was seventeen, and the Duc de Vincennes (old Armand, of course, not Philippe) challenged me to a duel for an affair of the heart, and very much more than the heart, I assure you, with the duchess (Stefanie, of course, not old Poppy)— now, to submit to impertinence from these pimply, tipsy virgins ….'†   (source)
  • The fellow had the impertinence to pretend that he recognized in Tredwell the man who gave him the parcel.†   (source)
  • There was something raw and monstrous about those uncompromising ice cliffs, and a certain sublime impertinence in approaching them thus.†   (source)
  • I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence—quite deliberate—and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.†   (source)
  • He swung about, facing the crowd, clicked his heels together and bowed like a dancing master, a bow that was graceful for so powerful a man, and as full of impertinence as a slap in the face.†   (source)
  • It was not jealousy; she did not care whether the face was a man's or a woman's; she resented the approval as an impertinence.†   (source)
  • Scarlett had a sudden treacherous desire to cry out, "But you've been happy, and you and Mother aren't alike," but she repressed it, fearing that he would box her ears for her impertinence.†   (source)
  • Formerly he had the same combination of servility and impertinence which Wilkerson possessed but now, with Mr. Calvert and Raiford dead in the war and Cade sick, he had dropped all servility.†   (source)
  • Years ago, thinking of Gail Wynand, she had wondered how such a man faced his life and his work; she expected boasting and a hidden sense of shame, or impertinence flaunting its own guilt.†   (source)
  • His nonchalance had an air of gracious informality and a touch of impertinence, as if the people around him did not deserve the preservation of rigid good manners.†   (source)
  • There was something breathtaking in the grace of his big body which made his very entrance into a room like an abrupt physical impact, something in the impertinence and bland mockery of his dark eyes that challenged her spirit to subdue him.†   (source)
  • He wore them with the careless impertinence of utter ease in the unbecoming, and the very grotesqueness of his appearance became a declaration of his superiority, a superiority great enough to warrant disregard of so much ungainliness.†   (source)
  • You'll apologise to me for your impertinence or you'll quit the office instanter!†   (source)
  • "I see Mr. Gordon has black-booked you for "gross impertinence.'†   (source)
  • The impertinence, the right to invade implied, astounded him.†   (source)
  • Withers, pardon an impertinence—I am deeply serious….†   (source)
  • To attempt to classify you, Mrs. Cheveley, would be an impertinence.†   (source)
  • Many's the time I've smacked her for her impertinence.†   (source)
  • The touch of some hands is an impertinence.†   (source)
  • You know I'm beginning to think that Granny is rather a piece of impertinence.†   (source)
  • I've lost Terry, now (though I won't stand his impertinence!†   (source)
  • That's enough impertinence—it gets to be a bore.†   (source)
  • He only has the impertinence to suggest you have made a mistake.†   (source)
  • Climb down, indeed, what incredible impertinence!†   (source)
  • And even if it was mingled with some impertinence, I still had to give you credit for it in the end.†   (source)
  • The impertinence of that flabby blackguard to sneer at Gottlieb!†   (source)
  • What the devil do you mean by that piece of impertinence, Mr Kenwigs?' said the collector.†   (source)
  • But it is mere impertinence in me to offer any recommendation.†   (source)
  • "What impertinence!" said Liddy, in a low voice.†   (source)
  • Excuse my impertinence, but you don't love me, and you never will love me, I suppose?'†   (source)
  • It would be an impertinence elsewhere, but it is not so here, to ask your name and condition?†   (source)
  • 'Perhaps,' observed Traddles, 'it was mere purposeless impertinence?'†   (source)
  • There is a great deal of impertinence in your saying it.†   (source)
  • His forced politeness sat awkwardly upon him, and approached almost to impertinence.†   (source)
  • Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?†   (source)
  • In any case this is unpardonable impertinence.†   (source)
  • I tried to rebuke him for his impertinence, but, failing, I commenced operations.†   (source)
  • "I wonder at your impertinence," said Troy, moving on.†   (source)
  • Your coming here is an affront, an impertinence, an audacity.†   (source)
  • Why, that's impertinence—that's what it is."†   (source)
  • You may as well call it impertinence at once.†   (source)
  • I shall complain to M. de Villefort of the impertinence of his servants.†   (source)
  • Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions but answered them very composedly.†   (source)
  • If you do not choose to understand me, forgive my impertinence.†   (source)
  • Before I had time to deal with that, however, he continued as if with the sense that this was an impertinence to be softened.†   (source)
  • But several facts passed; Charles pressed for them with an impertinence that the undergraduate could not withstand.†   (source)
  • Damn your impertinence!†   (source)
  • He seemed to have no suspicion of any impertinence or inappropriateness in the fact of such questions being put to him.†   (source)
  • I must say that of all the confounded pieces of impertinence—well, if these are Anarchist manners I hope you like them.†   (source)
  • Such an impertinence amazed him.†   (source)
  • Larry has been going it rather harder than usual lately—if cousin Louisa won't mind my mentioning it—having rather a stiff affair with the postmaster's wife in their village, or some one of that sort; and whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins to suspect anything, and he's afraid of trouble, he gets up a fuss of this kind, to show how awfully moral he is, and talks at the top of his voice about the impertinence of inviting his wife to meet people he doesn't wish her to know.†   (source)
  • Amazing impertinence!†   (source)
  • She had the art of treating women who desired refreshment with just that degree of impertinence which irritated them without affording them an opportunity of complaining to the management.†   (source)
  • His teachers were asked to state their respective charges against him, which they did with such a rancor and aggrievedness as evinced that this was not a usual case, Disorder and impertinence were among the offenses named, yet each of his instructors felt that it was scarcely possible to put into words the real cause of the trouble, which lay in a sort of hysterically defiant manner of the boy's; in the contempt which they all knew he felt for them, and which he seemingly made not the…†   (source)
  • Needless to say, I refused such an unsuitable invitation, and she had the impertinence to tell me that it would broaden my ideas, and said that she had four brothers, all University men, except one who was in the army, who always made a point of talking to commercial travellers.†   (source)
  • He had been obliged to offer an abject apology to Mr. Alleyne for his impertinence but he knew what a hornet's nest the office would be for him.†   (source)
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