Spunk vs Temerity - What's the difference?

spunk | temerity | Related terms |

Spunk is a related term of temerity.


As nouns the difference between spunk and temerity

is that spunk is (countable|obsolete) a spark while temerity is (not countable) reckless boldness; foolish bravery.

As a verb spunk

is (slang|vulgar) to ejaculate.

spunk

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (countable, obsolete) A spark.
  • * 1886 , , 2009, page 109,
    • “That?s none such an entirely bad little man, yon little man with the red head,” said Alan. “He has some spunks of decency.”
  • (uncountable) Touchwood; tinder.
  • * 1646 , (Thomas Browne), Pseudodoxia Epidemica , II.5:
    • Spunk , or Touch-wood prepared, might perhaps make it Russet: and some, as Beringuccio affirmeth, have promised to make it Red.
  • (countable, chiefly, Scotland, obsolete) A piece of tinder, sometimes impregnated with sulphur; a match.
  • * 1829 , Society for Relief of the Destitute Sick (Edinburgh), Report , page 7,
    • At present, her only means of procuring subsistence for herself and children, is by making spunks or matches, which, either she or her eldest child, a girl about six years of age, sells from door to door.
  • * 1843 , John Wilson, John Gibson Lockhart, William Maginn, James Hogg, The Noctes Ambrosianæ of “Blackwood” , Volume IV, page 396,
    • “Spunks' — '''spunks''' — '''spunks''' — who will buy my ' spunks ?” — cried an errant voice with a beseeching earnestness.
  • (uncountable) Courage; spirit; mettle; determination.
  • * 1920 August, Edward Leonard, Old Zeke?s Mule'', '' , 55,
    • “I reckon I?m as good as a mule,” he declared. “Maria knows what that desert is as well as we do, but she?s got more spunk' than either of us. I'm not going to let any mule show more ' spunk than me.”
  • * 1991 , Lindsey Hanks, (copyright Linda Chesnutt, Georgia Pierce), Long Texas Night , Zebra Books, US, page 26,
    • “You've got spunk', missy, I?ll have to say that for you. Maybe with your ' spunk and my good looks we can get this place in shape again.”
    It was Sarah?s turn to laugh.
  • *
  • (countable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) An attractive person (normally male).
  • * 2005 , Sue Austin, Women?s Aggressive Fantasies: A Post-Jungian Exploration of Self-Hatred, Love and Agency , Routledge, UK, page 166,
    • We are welcomed by 20 year old spunks , as we make a last valiant attempt with our bodies - gasp, gasp - and try to get back in shape.
  • (uncountable, chiefly, UK, vulgar, slang) Semen.
  • * 2007 , Debra Hyde, Kidnapped'', Violet Blue (editor), ''Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women , 2010, ReadHowYouWant, page 188,
    • It was runny stuff and, as she felt Brain loosen his hold on the drawstrings, Cackle's spunk dripped onto the shelf of her chin.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (slang, vulgar) To ejaculate.

    • Anagrams

    *

    temerity

    English

    Noun

  • (not countable) Reckless boldness; foolish bravery.
  • * 1569 , Thomas Pearson, trans., "The Second Paradox," in The booke of Marcus Tullius Cicero entituled Paradoxa Stoicorum , T. Marshe (London),
    • Neyther the spightfull temerity and rashnes of variable fortune, nor the envious hart burning and in iurious hatred of mine enemies shold be able once to damnify me.
  • * 1837 , , The Pickwick Papers , ch. 17,
    • One day when he knew old Lobbs was out, Nathaniel Pipkin had the temerity to kiss his hand to Maria Lobbs.
  • * 1886 , , The Mayor of Casterbridge , ch. 21
    • Elizabeth trotted through the open door in the dusk, but becoming alarmed at her own temerity , she went quickly out again by another which stood open in the lofty wall of the back court.
  • * 1913 , , The Return of Tarzan , ch. 21,
    • I am surprised that you, sir, a man of letters yourself, should have the temerity so to interrupt the progress of science.
  • (countable) An act or case of reckless boldness.
  • * 1910 , , "The Blond Beast," Scribner's Magazine , vol. 48 (Sept),
    • Draper, dear lad, had the illusion of an "intellectual sympathy" between them.... Draper's temerities would always be of that kind.
  • (not countable) Effrontery; impudence.
  • * 1820 , , Precaution , ch. 30,
    • He had very nearly been guilty of the temerity of arrogating to himself another title in the presence of those he most respected.

    Synonyms

    * (reckless boldness): audacity, foolhardiness, rashness, recklessness * (effrontery): brashness, cheek, gall, chutzpah

    Related terms

    * temerarious * temerary * temerous

    References

    * * * * * " temerity" in the Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus (Wordsmyth, 2002) * " temerity" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007) * * Oxford English Dictionary , second edition (1989) * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary (1987-1996) * *