Pert Meaning
/pɜːt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjAttractive.
adjWell-formed; shapely.
Sentence Examples
Mary had a pert nose and deep blue eyes.
She looked pert in her new dress.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young girl gave a ____ reply that was both disrespectful and rude.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ young assistant answered every question with confidence and a hint of cheekiness.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pert, perte, aphetic form of apert.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Goe Philoſtrate, / Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments, / Awake the peart and nimble ſpirit of mirth, / Turne melancholy foorth to funerals: […]"
— c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
"He was instantly attracted to Gladys's pert, fey humor and her good nature."
— 2001, Donald Spoto, chapter 1, in Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, page 11:
"Says Mrs. Jervis, Pamela, don’t be pert to his Honour? You ſhould know your Diſtance; you ſee his Honour was only in Jeſt."
— 1741, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVI”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 37:
"[T]he Major began to think that Pen was growing exceedingly pert and conceited, and that the world made a great deal too much of him."
— 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
"[…]so that I couldn't help telling her, sir, that in our country, leastways in Virginia (they say the Yankees are very pert), young people don't speak of their elders so."
— 1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, chapter XXXIV, in The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858–1859, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young girl gave a ____ reply that was both disrespectful and rude.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ young assistant answered every question with confidence and a hint of cheekiness.