Other forms: insolences
Insolence is rude disrespect towards somebody who deserves better. Sheer insolence, punished for insolence, the insolence of it.
It is a strong and slightly old-fashioned word, and it assumes a hierarchy — insolence is rudeness aimed upward, which is why it appears in school records, courts martial and historical drama. Note insolent, which is the commoner form; and that the word implies the speaker accepts the hierarchy being offended against, which is why it now sounds pompous in most modern settings.
1nouninsolenceRude disrespect towards somebody who deserves better.
“The pupil was sent to the head teacher for his insolence towards the teacher.”
insolence is a form of disrespect.
Latin insolentia is in-, not, plus solens, being accustomed — from solere, to be used to. Insolence began as behaviour that was simply unusual, and the disrespect was read into unfamiliarity.
Latin
īnsolentia
Middle French
insolence
English, today
insolence
From Middle French insolence, from Latin īnsolentia.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA