Insult Means to Jump On
An insult is a disrespectful remark. The Latin verb means to leap upon, which is what an insult does to its target.
An insult is a disrespectful or scornful remark. The Latin *insultare* means to leap upon, from *salire*, to jump — the image is of springing at someone in triumph or contempt. Medicine kept the physical sense: an *insult* to the brain means an injury, which surprises people who meet it in a clinical report.
- A disrespectful remark. *A deliberate insult.*
- To speak scornfully to. *He insulted the referee.*
- An injury (medical). *An insult to the tissue.*
- Add insult to injury — to worsen a bad situation. *That adds insult to injury.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | insult | A gross insult. |
| Plural | insults | Trading insults. |
| Verb | insult | Insult the guest. |
| Adjective | insulting | An insulting tone. |
| Related | assault | A physical assault. |
How it is used in a sentence
- That adds insult to injury.From a Roman fable.
- A cerebral insult means brain injury.Medical.
- IN-sult is the noun, in-SULT the verb.Stress shift.
Words from *salire*, to jump
- Insult — to leap upon
- Assault — to leap at
- Result — to leap back
- Salient — leaping out, prominent
- Somersault — an over-leap, from *supra* and *saltus*
From Latin *insultare*, to leap upon or scoff at, from *in* and *salire*, to jump.
Why does medicine use *insult* for injury?
Because the Latin sense of an assault on the body survived in technical usage. A cerebral insult means damage to the brain.
Are result and insult related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *salire*, to jump. A result is what leaps back from an action.