[bold] adj [ME, fr. OE beald; akin to OHG bald bold] (bef. 12c) 1 a: fearless before danger: intrepid b: showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit "a ~ plan"
2: impudent, presumptuous 3 obs: assured, confident
4: sheer, steep "~ cliffs"
5: adventurous, free "a ~ thinker"
6: standing out prominently 7: being or set in boldface -- bold.ly adv -- bold.ness n
[2]bold n (ca. 1871): boldface