impudence

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English impudence,^[2][3] borrowed from Latin impudentia (“shamelessness”),^{[4][5][6][7][2]} the noun of quality from impudēns (“shameless”).^[4][5][3] That adjective is formed from in- (“not”), assimilated to im- before p, and pudēns (“ashamed, modest”),^[4][5] originally the present participle of pudeō (“to make or feel ashamed”).^[4][5] The OED notes that the ending looks French, while the by-form impudency comes directly from Latin, yet French impudence is recorded only from 1539.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Shamelessness, immodesty: about 1386, in Chaucer's Parson's Tale,^[4] where it is named among the sins of pride beside arrogance and hypocrisy.^[2] Etymonline likewise dates the word to the late 14th century,^[5] and Dictionary.com to 1350–1400.^[8]

Semantic evolution

The first sense was close to the Latin one, a lack of shame or modesty, and the OED traces it until 1712.^[4] It lasted longer in dialect: a Herefordshire record of 1682 uses the word for indecency.^[9] In the early 17th century the word turned from a want of shame in general to shameless boldness towards other people, insolent disrespect, first recorded in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale.^[4][6] This is the current sense.^[10][3] A favourable or neutral use also appeared in the 17th century, freedom from shyness or cool confidence,^[4][6] which Merriam-Webster now labels archaic.^[3] The word could also stand for an impudent person, from 1671 in Dryden,^[4] and in plural use for an impudent act or remark.^[4][3] In a court record of 1783 it served as a slang word for the penis.^[11]

Timeline

• c. 1386 – shamelessness, immodesty, in Chaucer (obsolete by 1712).^[4]
• before 1616 – shameless effrontery, insolent disrespect, in Shakespeare.^[4]
• before 1640 – in a good or neutral sense, cool confidence.^[4]
• 1671 – an impudent person, in Dryden.^[4]
• 1783 – slang, the penis.^[11]
• 1885 – with an and a plural, a piece of impudence.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Bold disrespect or insolence; cocky self-assurance: The boy had the impudence to correct his teacher in front of the class.^[10][3][4]
2. An impudent remark or act.^[10][3][4]
3. (archaic) Cool confidence or self-possession.^[3][4][6]
4. (obsolete, c. 1386–1712) Shamelessness, immodesty or indecency.^[4][3][6]

Related words

• impudent
• impudency
• pudendum
• pudency

Usage notes

The Century Dictionary, as quoted by Etymonline, separated the word from impertinence: impertinence is at root behaviour not suited to the circumstances, and so meddling and unmannerly conduct, while impudence is impertinence without a blush, shown in words, tone, gesture or looks.^[5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
8. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
9. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)
10. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
11. ^ a b Green, Jonathon (2010), Green's Dictionary of Slang, London: Chambers; digital ed. 2016–, https://greensdictofslang.com