▪ I. temerous, a. Now rare.
(ˈtɛmərəs)
[f. L. type *temerōsus rash, f. temere adv., by chance, blindly, heedlessly: see -ous.
(Temere is generally held to be the loc. sing. of a n. *temos = Skr. támas darkness, hence in darkness, blindly.)]
Rash, foolhardy; = temerarious 1.
| 1461 [implied in temerously]. 1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 20 §1 Diuers..dispise the..decrees of the ecclesiastical courtes..in more temerous and large maner than before this time hath ben sene. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey Prol. (1893) 2 Thus may all men of wisdom and discretion understand the temerous madness of the rude commonalty. 1622 E. Misselden Free Trade 88 Temerous, rash, and litigious suites of law. 1678 Coleman Two Lett. i. 3 Our Parliament..by the temerous Counsels of our Ministers, who then Governed, could never be useful. 1888 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 281, I have not the temerous intention of disputing..the correctness of the modern Latin pronunciation. |
Hence ˈtemerously adv., with temerity; rashly, presumptuously; ˈtemerousness, rashness, temerity.
| 1461 Rolls of Parlt. V. 463/2 Henry..temerously ayenst rightwisnes..rered were at Flynte in Wales. 1550 Coverdale Spir. Perle xiii. (1588) 140 [They] attempt not any thing temerously and rashly. 1562 Winȝet Last Blast Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 40 Osias, quha temeruslie in his arrogance ingerit him self to make sacrifice at the altare of God. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 42 b/1 Or els throughe temerousnes & timorousnes of the Chyrurgian. 1727 Bailey Vol. II, Temerousness, Rashness, Unadvisedness. |
▪ II. temerous
obs. form of timorous.