Im*per"ti*nent (?), a. [F., fr. L.
impertinens, -entis; pref. im- not +
pertinens. See Pertinent.] 1. Not
pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on
the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable.
Things that are impertinent to us.
Tillotson.
How impertinent that grief was which served no
end!
Jer. Taylor.
2. Contrary to, or offending against, the
rules of propriety or good breeding; guilty of, or prone to, rude,
unbecoming, or uncivil words or actions; as, an impertient
coxcomb; an impertient remark.
3. Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.
Syn. -- Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly;
meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent. --
Impertinent, Officious, Rude. A person is
officious who obtrudes his offices or assistance where
they are not needed; he is impertinent when he intermeddles in
things with which he has no concern. The former shows a want of tact,
the latter a want of breeding, or, more commonly, a spirit of sheer
impudence. A person is rude when he violates the proprieties
of social life either from ignorance or wantonness. "An
impertinent man will ask questions for the mere gratification
of curiosity; a rude man will burst into the room of another,
or push against his person, inviolant of all decorum; one who is
officious is quite as unfortunate as he is troublesome; when
he strives to serve, he has the misfortune to annoy." Crabb.
See Impudence, and Insolent.
Im*per"ti*nent, n. An impertinent
person. [R.]
