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pert

pert [purt] SynonymsWord Origin adjective, pert·er, pert·est.

boldly forward in speech or behavior; impertinent; saucy.
jaunty and stylish; chic; natty.
lively; sprightly; in good health.
Obsolete. clever.

Origin of pert 1200–50; Middle English, aphetic variant of apert Old French Latin apertus open (past participle of aperīre; see aperient); in Middle English and Old French, influenced by Old French aspert Latin expertus expert Related formspert·ly, adverbpert·ness, nounSynonyms for pert 1. presumptuous, impudent. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Related Words for perter animated, audacious, brash, brazen, breezy, bright, brisk, cheeky, dapper, daring, dashing, disrespectful, flip, flippant, forward, fresh, gay, impertinent, impudent, insolent British Dictionary definitions for perter pert adjective

saucy, impudent, or forward
jauntya pert little hat
obsolete clever or brisk

Derived Formspertly, adverbpertness, nounWord Origin for pert C13: variant of earlier apert, from Latin apertus open, from aperīre to open; influenced by Old French aspert, from Latin expertus expert PERT n acronym for

programme evaluation and review technique

Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for perter pert adj.

c.1300 (implied in pertly), “evident, unconcealed,” shortened form of Middle English apert “open, frank,” from Old French apert, from Latin apertus, past participle of aperire “to open” (see overt). Sense of “saucy, bold” first recorded late 14c. Less pejorative meaning “lively, brisk, in good spirits” (c.1500) survives in U.S. dialectal peart (with Middle English alternative spelling). Related: Pertness.

American biochemist noted for her study of brain chemicals and the locations of their receptors.