a. Now rare. [f. L. type *temerōsus rash, f. temere adv., by chance, blindly, heedlessly: see -OUS.
(Temere is generally held to be the loc. sing. of a sb. *temos = Skr. támas darkness, hence in darkness, blindly.)]
Rash, foolhardy; = TEMERARIOUS 1.
1461. [implied in TEMEROUSLY].
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 20 § 1. Diuers … dispise the … decrees of the ecclesiastical courtes … in more temerous and large maner than before this time hath ben sene.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey, Prol. (1893), 2. Thus may all men of wisdom and discretion understand the temerous madness of the rude commonalty.
1622. Misselden, Free Trade, 88. Temerous, rash, and litigious suites of law.
1678. Coleman, Two Lett., i. 3. Our Parliament … by the temerous Counsels of our Ministers, who then Governed, could never be useful.
1888. Atlantic Monthly, Feb., 281. I have not the temerous intention of disputing … the correctness of the modern Latin pronunciation.
Hence Temerously adv., with temerity; rashly, presumptuously; Temerousness, rashness, temerity.
1467. Rolls of Parlt., V. 463/2. Henry … temerously ayenst rightwisnes … rered were at Flynte in Wales.
1550. Coverdale, Spir. Perle, xiii. (1588), 140. [They] attempt not any thing temerously and rashly.
1562. Winȝet, Last Blast, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 40. Osias, quha temeruslie in his arrogance ingerit him self to make sacrifice at the altare of God.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 42 b/1. Or els through temerousnes & timorousnes of the Chyrurgian.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Temerousness, Rashness, Unadvisedness.
