Webster's English Dictionary

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temerity

te.mer.i.ty \t*-'mer-*t-e-\ n [ME temeryte, fr. L temeritas, fr. temere at 
   random, rashly;]akin to OHG demar darkness, L tenebrae, Skt tamas : 
   unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition : RASHNE SS, 
   RECKLESSNESSHEEK, GALL: TEMERITY suggests boldness arising from rashness 
   and contempt of danger; AUDACITY implies a disregard of restraints commonly 
   imposed by convention or prudence; HARDIHOOD suggest firmness in daring and 
   defiance; EFFRONTERY implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or 
   courtesy; NERVE, CHEEK, GALL are informal equivalents for EFFRONTERY SYN 
   syn AUDACITY, HARDIHOOD, EFFRONTERY, NERVE, C