n.
Pronunciation: in- ' s ə lt
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French insulter, from Latin insultare, literally, to spring upon, from in- + saltare to leap ― more at SALTATION
Date: 1540
intransitive verb archaic : to behave with pride or arrogance : VAUNT
transitive verb : to treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt : AFFRONT also : to affect offensively or damagingly <doggerel that insult s the reader's intelligence>
synonyms see OFFEND
– in · sult · er noun
– in · sult · ing · ly \ in- ' s ə l-ti ŋ -l ē \ adverb