Brazenness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An unrestrained and shameless demeanor that defies societal expectations
2. A boldness characterized by a lack of concern for conventional propriety and social limits
3. A quality of being unapologetically bold and disregarding social norms

Etymology: Brazenness is a plain formation: the adjective "brazen" with the suffix "-ness" added to turn a quality into a noun. The more interesting history lies in the first half. "Brazen" descends from an Old English word meaning "made of brass," so a brazen face was originally one as hard and unyielding as the metal. Over centuries that literal sense of hardness gave way to the figurative sense of impudence, a face that refuses to blush. The suffix has a long pedigree of its own. "-ness" comes from Old English "-nes," a noun-forming ending that has been attached to native adjectives since the earliest English. Because it is so productive, it can be added to almost any adjective, which is why "brazenness" could be formed from "brazen" without any special coinage. The noun thus joins the quality of brassy boldness to the general idea of a state or condition, giving a name to the behavior of someone who acts shamelessly.

Synonyms: audacity, impudence, insolence

Antonyms: modesty, shyness