audacious, a.
(ɔːˈdeɪʃəs)
[f. L. audāc(i-, nom. audax, bold, daring, f. audēre to dare: see -acious. Cf. F. audacieux, Cotgr. 1611.]
1. Daring, bold, confident, intrepid.
| 1550 Nicolls Thucydides ii. cvi. 67 More bolde and audacious in this thing, wherein we have much experyence. 1698 Dryden Ovid's Iphis (T.) Big was her voice, audacious was her tone:—The maid becomes a youth. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 436 ¶9 Miller had an audacious Look, that took the Eye. 1826 Scott Woodst. (1832) 178 All eyes turned to the audacious speaker. |
b. transferred to things.
| 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. ii. v, My Wife must be accomplished with courtly and audacious Ornaments. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. i. i. (1866) 51 The audacious and exquisitely embroidered tower of the townhouse. |
2. Unrestrained by, or setting at defiance, the principles of decorum and morality; presumptuously wicked, impudent, shameless.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. i. 14 Such is thy audacious wickednesse. 1612 Warner Alb. Eng. i. i. 2 As he and his audacious crew, the Tower of Babel reare. 1649 Milton Observ. Art. Peace Wks. 1738 I. 357 But we are told, We embrace Paganism and Judaism in the arms of Toleration. A most audacious calumny! 1722 De Foe Moll Fl. (1840) 286, I grew more hardened and audacious than ever. 1825 Bro. Jonathan II. 259 Like an audacious profligate, as he was. |
† 3. Inspiring boldness. Obs. rare.
| a 1625 Fletcher Wom. Prize ii. v. (T.) They have got metheglin, and audacious ale, And talk like tyrants! |