Forms: 5 -yte, 6 -ite, -atie, 6–7 -itie, 6– -ity, (6–7 timeritie, 7 -ity). [ad. L. temeritās, -tātem, rashness, f. temere adv. by chance, blindly: see -ITY. So F. témérité (15th c. in Godef., Compl.).]
1. Excessive boldness; rashness; foolhardiness, recklessness.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 467. Infancy joyethe in simplicite, yowthe in temeryte [temeritate [gaudet] juventus], age in debilite.
1551. Bp. Gardiner, Explic. True Cath. Faith, 20 b. To auoyde the temerite of deniyng (as neuer) or affirmyng (as euer) which be extremities.
1598. Barckley, Felic. Man, VI. (1603), 595. Fortitude referred to any other thing, then to godliness, falleth into temeritie or rashness.
1656. Stanley, Hist. Philos., VIII. (1701), 336/2. Affirming, that they have done wickedly, is not to be attributed to their timerity, but to Fate.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 19, ¶ 9. Marlborough might have been made to repent his temerity at Blenheim.
1803. Repton, Landscape Gard. (1805), 33. There is … no more temerity in marking trees to be taken down than those to be planted.
1857. Hawkesworth, trans. Fénelon’s Telemachus, I. 199. While these princes were praising your magnificence, I could not but reflect in silence upon your temerity.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockw., 80. Mr. Denison’s temerity was justified by his success.
b. with a and pl. An act or instance of rashness.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Titus iii. 2. Wks. 1687, I. 237. Among all temerities this is one of the most noxious.
1847. Lewes, Hist. Philos., Introd. (1857), 33. The unhesitating temerities of Plato and Plotinus.
† 2. Chance, fortuity: cf. TEMERARIOUS 2. Obs.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., i. iii. § 23. 168. Although there be not the least appearance of fortuitousness or temerity in it. Ibid., iv. § 24. 415. Or all things … most opposite to Chance, Fortune, and Temerity.
