PERTNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pertness mean? 

• PERTNESS (noun)
  The noun PERTNESS has 2 senses:

1. inappropriate playfulness

2. quality of being lively and confident

  Familiarity information: PERTNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PERTNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inappropriate playfulness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

archness; impertinence; perkiness; pertness; sauciness

Hypernyms ("pertness" is a kind of...):

fun; playfulness (a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement)

Derivation:

pert (characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Quality of being lively and confident

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

there was a pertness about her that attracted him

Hypernyms ("pertness" is a kind of...):

life; liveliness; spirit; sprightliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Derivation:

pert (characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality)

 Context examples 

“Here is pertness!” cried the other.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is not our custom in Spain to reward pertness in a messenger,” Don Pedro answered, patting the head of his greyhound.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At times, too, when the wild fit was upon her, she would break into pertness and rebel openly against Alleyne's gentle firmness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)