I. ˈda(a)](ə)r, ˈde], ]ə verb
( dared or archaic & dialect durst ˈdərst, ˈdə̄st, ˈdəist ; dared ; daring ; dares or dare nonstandard present singular & plural dast ˈdast, ˈdaa(ə)st, ˈdaist ; archaic present second singular darst ˈdärst, ˈdȧst\)
Etymology: Middle English dar (1st & 3d person singular present indicative of durren, daren, past dorste, durste ), from Old English dear (infin. — assumed — durran, past dorste ); akin to Old High German gi tar (1st & 3d person singular present indicative) dare, Gothic ga dars (infin. ga daursan ), Latin in festus hostile, Greek tharsein, tharrein to be bold, Sanskrit dharṣati he is bold
intransitive verb
: to have sufficient courage : be bold enough : be unafraid : venture
try it if you dare
transitive verb
1. : to have the bravery, boldness, or fortitude to contend against, venture, or try
the actress dared the title role
2.
a. : to confront boldly : invite the opposition of fearlessly : defy
daring the wrath of the family
b. : to challenge to perform an action : provoke or goad (a person) into demonstrating courage, power, or skill
to what further frenzies would the gods dare their victim — Virginia Woolf
the other boys dared him to dive from the bridge
verbal auxiliary
: be sufficiently bold, brave, or courageous to : be daring enough to
he dares not pronounce that repentance is followed by full forgiveness in this life — Review of Religion
a few twisted thorn trees … which no man dare cut down — O.S.J.Gogarty
he durst not stay for fear of some treachery — Ballad Book
Synonyms: see face
II. noun
( -s )
1. : an invitation to contend : a challenge to do something dangerous, foolhardy, or unusual
a dare which it was hard for their rough, pioneer neighbors to resist — M.R.Werner
— often used with take
so foolish he'd always take a dare
2. : daring : imaginative or vivacious boldness ; especially : verve
with a little more dare , the second collection should be better — Time
each heavenward leap, each architectural dare — Forum
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English dar, alteration ( darce being taken as plural) of darce — more at dace
archaic : dace 1