Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Overweening presumption; arrogant or insulting conduct.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun rare Excessive presumption.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic Presumption, arrogance, self-conceit.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old (and modern) French outrecuidance, from outre + cuider ‘think’, from Latin cogitare.

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Examples

  • It is my prayer that his young son may do the like, and that my Lord of York be not fretted out of his peaceful loyalty by the Somerset "outrecuidance", and above all that my own son be not the make-bate; but Richard is proud and fiery, and I fear -- I greatly fear, what may be in store for us. '

    Two Penniless Princesses Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862

  • "It is full time," said De Bracy, "that the 'outrecuidance' of these peasants should be restrained by some striking example."

    Ivanhoe Walter Scott 1801

  • “By my honour,” said the baron, “I would gladly know who has dared to array the poor knave thus; and I trust he should dearly aby his outrecuidance, were he the best, save one, in England.”

    Waverley 2004

  • * Cest une outrecuidance insupportable de la vouloir faire dependre de la volonte de l'homme, ou transporter une partie d'icelle aux moyens et preparatifs humain: [846] 1

    Commentary on Genesis - Volume 2 1509-1564 1996

  • [33] Cest une outrecuidance insupportable de la vouloir faire dependre de la volonte de l'homme, ou transporter une partie d'icelle aux moyens et preparatifs humain.

    Commentary on Genesis - Volume 2 1509-1564 1996

  • Lord Alfred Douglas' boldness gave Oscar outrecuidance, an insolent arrogance: artist-like he tried to outdo his model in aristocratic disdain.

    Oscar Wilde Harris, Frank 1916

  • "But, with my constitution and temperament -- my work lies in Boston -- I find your outrecuidance --"

    The Day's Work - Volume 1 Rudyard Kipling 1900

  • I recollect nothing of this beyond the fact of meeting Mr. Wollaston; and except for Sir Charles's distinct assurance as to "all four," I should have thought my outrecuidance was probably a counterblast to Wollaston's conservatism.

    The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley Huxley, Leonard 1900

  • ` ` It is full time, '' said De Bracy, ` ` that the _outrecuidance_*

    Ivanhoe 1892

  • * _Surquedy_ and _outrecuidance_ --- insolence and presumption. of a prince of the House of Anjou?

    Ivanhoe 1892

Comments

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  • outrecuidance(rare) extreme self-conceit: presumption

    July 26, 2008

  • JM is excessively proud of not being guilty of outrecuidance.

    February 1, 2009