impertinent
rude or not properly relevant
Roots
- im- / in- (not): not or without
- per-: through, thoroughly, or completely
- ten / tain: hold or keep
Other words with the ten / tain root
- abstain: to hold back from doing or taking something
- contain: to hold inside
- content: satisfied; also something held inside
- contented: satisfied or at peace
- detain: to hold back
- discontent: dissatisfaction or unrest
- malcontent: dissatisfied person, often rebellious or resentful
Impertinent began as not pertinent: not holding to the point. The rude sense grows from stepping outside the proper sphere.
The impertinent question ignored the speaker's grief and chased gossip instead.
Impertinent is useful because relevance turns social. A comment can be off-point; a person can be impertinent when they push into a matter that is not theirs.