Impertinent vs Flout - What's the difference?
impertinent | flout |
insolent, ill-mannered
* Tillotson
* Jeremy Taylor
irrelevant (opposite of pertinent)
An impertinent individual.
* (Maria Edgeworth)
To express contempt for the rules by word or action.
* 2012 , The Economist, Sep 29th 2012 issue,
To scorn.
* Walton
* Byron
The act by which something is flouted.
* 2012 , John Flowerdew, Discourse in English Language Education (page 97)
As nouns the difference between impertinent and flout
is that impertinent is an impertinent individual while flout is the act by which something is flouted.As an adjective impertinent
is insolent, ill-mannered.As a verb flout is
to express contempt for the rules by word or action.impertinent
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- things that are impertinent to us
- How impertinent that grief was which served no end!
Usage notes
Although, historically, definition 2 was the original (derived from the French below) usage; meaning gradually changed to definition 1. More recently general usage has come to, once again, incorporate definition 2. As many older speakers will consider definition 2 incorrect, avoiding the word altogether may be advisable. The construction "not pertinent" is one possible alternative.Synonyms
* See alsoNoun
(en noun)- comfortably recessed from curious impertinents
flout
English
Verb
Tax alchemy: Tech's avoidance
- The manoeuvres of Microsoft and HP appear to comply with the letter of the regulations, even if they flout their spirit.
- Phillida flouts me.
- Three gaudy standards flout the pale blue sky.
Usage notes
* Do not confuse with flaunt.Noun
(en noun)- A flout is when someone deliberately and ostentatiously contravenes a maxim.