Brazennesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being brazen, marked by shameless boldness or audacity
2. The state of exhibiting a defiant disregard for social norms and conventions
3. Characterized by a blatant or unapologetic attitude that often provokes or offends others

Etymology: "Brazennesses" is the plural of "brazenness," meaning instances of bold, shameless conduct. The base adjective "brazen" comes from Old English "bræsen," meaning "made of brass," from "bræs" (brass). Its link to bold behaviour is metaphorical: brass was hard and unyielding, so a brazen face was one that could not be embarrassed. The suffix "-ness" turns the adjective into an abstract noun, and the plural form counts separate displays of that quality.