Origin and history of temerous

temerous(adj.)

"heedless, rash, reckless," mid-15c., by analogy of other adjectives, from Latin temere "indiscreetly, rashly, by chance" (see temerity). Also compare temerarious. Other adjectives in the same sense included temerary (early 15c.), temeritous (1892)

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to temerous

temerarious(adj.)

"rash, reckless, heedless of consequences," 1530s, from Latin temerarius "rash, heedless, indiscreet; that happens by chance," from temere "blindly, rashly, by chance" (see temerity). Probably obsolete. Related: Temerariously; temerariousness.

temerity(n.)

early 15c., temerite, "extreme venturesomeness, rashness, recklessness," from Old French temerite (14c.) and directly from Latin temeritatem (nominative temeritas) "blind chance, accident; rashness, indiscretion, foolhardiness," from temere "by chance, at random; indiscreetly, rashly, recklessly;" probably, etymologically, "blindly."

This is reconstructed to be from a PIE *temos- "darkness," source also of Sanskrit tamisra- "dark night," tamsrah "dark;" Avestan temah "darkness;" Middle Persian tar "darkness," tarig "dark;" Lithuanian tamsa "darkness," tamsus "dark;" Old Church Slavonic tima "darkness;" Old High German dinstar "dark," demar "twilight;" Old Irish temel "darkness."

The connecting notion would be "blindly, in darkness," hence "without foreseeing." Compare Latin tenebrio "dishonest person," apparently "person who operates in darkness" (see tenebrous).

Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Origin and history of temerous

temerous(adj.)

Entries linking to temerous

Share temerous