PERT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does pert mean? 

• PERT (adjective)
  The adjective PERT has 1 sense:

1. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

  Familiarity information: PERT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PERT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

Synonyms:

impertinent; irreverent; pert; saucy

Context example:

a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner

Similar:

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

Derivation:

pertness (quality of being lively and confident)

pertness (inappropriate playfulness)

 Context examples 

An odious, little, pert, unnatural, impudent girl.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

A little upstart, vulgar being, with her Mr. E., and her caro sposo, and her resources, and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

This project could not be of any great expense to the public; and might in my poor opinion, be of much use for the despatch of business, in those countries where senates have any share in the legislative power; beget unanimity, shorten debates, open a few mouths which are now closed, and close many more which are now open; curb the petulancy of the young, and correct the positiveness of the old; rouse the stupid, and damp the pert.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The men appeared to her all coarse, the women all pert, everybody underbred; and she gave as little contentment as she received from introductions either to old or new acquaintance.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

From Harriet's happening not to be at Hartfield, and her father's being present to engage Mr. Elton, she had a quarter of an hour of the lady's conversation to herself, and could composedly attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I have been but half a friend to her; and if she were not to feel this disappointment so very much, I am sure I have not an idea of any body else who would be at all desirable for her;—William Coxe—Oh! no, I could not endure William Coxe—a pert young lawyer.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)