Category:Insult

In"sult, n. Etym: [L. insultus, fr. insilire to leap upon: cf. F. insulte. See Insult, v. t.]

1. The act of leaping on; onset; attack. [Obs.] Dryden.

2. Gross abuse offered to another, either by word or act; an act or speech of insolence or contempt; an affront; an indignity. The ruthless sneer that insult adds to grief. Savage.

Syn. -- Affront; indignity; abuse; outrage; contumely. See Affront.

insult In*sult", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Insulting.] Etym: [F. insulter, L. insultare, freq. fr. insilire to leap into or upon; pref. in- in, on + salire to leap. See Salient.]

1. To leap or trample upon; to make a sudden onset upon. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To treat with abuse, insolence, indignity, or contempt, by word or action; to abuse; as, to call a man a coward or a liar, or to sneer at him, is to insult him.

insult In*sult", v. i.

1. To leap or jump. Give me thy knife, I will insult on him. Shak. Like the frogs in the apologue, insulting upon their wooden king. Jer. Taylor.

2. To behave with insolence; to exult. [Archaic] The lion being dead, even hares insult. Daniel. An unwillingness to insult over their helpless fatuity. Landor.