imperence

English

Noun

imperence (countable and uncountable, plural imperences)

1. (colloquial, archaic) impertinence
   • 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the chapter name)”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC:

     'Don't go away, Mary,' said the black-eyed man. 'Let me alone, imperence,' said the young lady.

   • 1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:

     I don’t want none of your imperence, young man. I’ve seen you before, — you’ve been hanging about here the whole day long!

   • 1852, William Thackeray, Men's Wives:

     "Augustus, show this imperence to the door; and if he tries to come in again, call a policeman: do you hear?"

Alternative forms

• imperance