brazen English · revision 1606

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹeɪ̯zən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|brasen]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) [[inh|ang|bræsen|t=made of brass]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''bræs'' “brass” and the suffix [[-en]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Made of brass (about 1000).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “made of brass” the word came to mean strong as brass (1382)^(OED 1989) and like brass in colour or sound (1596).^(OED 1989) The figurative sense of shameless effrontery appeared in the 1570s, often in ''brazen-faced'',^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) perhaps suggesting a face that cannot show shame.^(Etymonline) The verb, mostly in ''brazen it out'', dates from the 1550s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1000 – made of brass.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1382 – strong as brass.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1555 – verb, to face impudently.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1573 – shameless, hardened in effrontery.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1596 – like brass in colour or sound.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Bold and shameless; [[impudent]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Loud and harsh, like struck [[brass]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Made of brass.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Like brass in colour or strength.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To face something boldly and without shame, usually in ''brazen it out''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brazenly]]

+ * [[brazenness]]

+ * [[brazenfaced]]

+ * [[outbrazen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''brassy'', ''insolent'' and ''defiant'' as synonyms and refers to ''bold'' for a fuller discussion.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}