insult

in•sult

v. [[t]ɪnˈsʌlt[/t]] n. [[t]ˈɪn sʌlt[/t]] v. t.

1) to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront

2) to affect as an affront; offend or demean

3) archaic to attack; assault

4) archaic to behave with insolent triumph; exult contemptuously

5) an insolent or contemptuously rude action or remark; affront

6) something having the effect of an affront:

That book is an insult to one's intelligence[/ex]

7) med Med.

a) an injury or trauma

b) an agent that inflicts this

8) archaic an attack or assault

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Etymology: 1560–70; < L insultāre to jump on, mock =in- in-+-sultāre, comb. form of saltāre to jump; see saltant in•sult′a•ble, adj. in•sult′er, n. in•sult′ing•ly, adv. syn: insult, indignity, affront, slight refer to acts or words that offend or demean. insult refers to a deliberately discourteous or rude remark or act that humiliates, wounds the feelings, and arouses anger: an insult about her foreign accent. indignity refers to an injury to one's dignity or self-respect: The prisoners suffered many indignities. affront implies open offense or disrespect: Criticism of my book was a personal affront. slight implies inadvertent indifference or disregard, but may also indicate ill-concealed contempt: Not inviting me was an unforgivable slight.