Where does “malapert” come from?
malapert (English) comes from Old French mal, from Latin malleus, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-no-, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
malapert (English): A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person; Cheeky,...
Definitions
- A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person; Cheeky,...
Ancestry of “malapert”, step by step
malapert traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French mal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | mal | evilly; badly; poorly; evil |
| 2 | Latin | malleus | hammer, mallet; a disease of animals; the... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂-no- | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via Old French apert
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | apert | — |
| 2 | Latin | apertus | opened, open, free; public; having been opened;... |
| 3 | Latin | aperiō | to uncover, make or lay bare, reveal, clear |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂epó | off, away |
via Middle French malappert
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | malappert | — |