IMPER'TINENCE IMPER'TINENCY, noun [Latin impertinens; in and pertinens, pertineo, to pertain; per and teneo, to hold.] 1. That which is not pertinent; that which does not belong to the subject in hand; that which is of no weight. 2. The state of not being pertinent. 3. Folly; rambling thought. [Little used.] 4. Rudeness; improper intrusion; interference by word or conduct which is not consistent with the age or station of the person. [This is the most usual sense.] We should avoid the vexation and impertinence of pedants. 5. A trifle, a thing of little or no value. There are many subtile impertinencies learnt in schools-
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI