Framing the Dialogue

Posts Tagged ‘Framing The Dictionary’

Audacity (aw – das – it – ee)

Audacity is defined as:

“Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention.  An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness.”

Synonyms:  nerve, boldness, recklessness, rashness, intrepidity, dauntless, cheek, gall, presumption, chutzpah, impudence, effrontery

Can you use it in a sentence?

Some note the audacity of Barack Obama having written two autobiographies before he had really accomplished anything.  

Can you give me an example? 

Barack Obama writing TWO autobiographies before he had accomplished anything more than being elected to public office. 

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Hubris (hew – bris)

This is the first in the new series – Framing the Dictionary.

Hubris is defined in Answers.com as:

“Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance”

As you scroll further on the web page they offer this second definition:

Hubris [hew - bris] or hybris, the Greek word for ‘insolence’ or ‘affront’, applied to the arrogance or pride of the protagonist in a tragedy in which he or she defies moral laws or the prohibitions of the gods. The protagonist’s transgression leads eventually to his or her downfall, which may be understood as divine retribution or nemesis. Hubris is commonly translated as ‘overweening (i.e. excessively presumptuous) pride’. In proverbial terms, hubris is thus the pride that comes before a fall.

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