insult

Meanings

Verb

• To be insensitive, insolent, or rude to (somebody); to affront or demean (someone).
• To assail, assault, or attack; to carry out an assault, attack, or onset without preparation.
• To behave in an obnoxious and superior manner (against or over someone).
• To leap or trample upon.

Noun

• Action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; a particular act or statement having this effect.
• Something that causes offence (for example, by being of an unacceptable quality).
• Something causing disease or injury to the body or bodily processes; the injury so caused.
• An assault or attack; an assault, attack, or onset carried out without preparation.
• An act of leaping upon.

Origin

• The verb is derived from Middle French insulter (modern French insulter) or its etymon Latin īnsultāre, present active infinitive of īnsultō, the frequentative form of īnsiliō, from in- + saliō (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sel-).
• The noun is derived from Middle French insult (modern French insulte) or its etymon Late Latin insultus, from īnsiliō; see above.