dare
verbnounverbnountop 1 000 in film dialogue
- United Kingdom//dɛə//
- United States//dɛ(ə)ɹ//
To have enough courage (to do something).
verb
- 1
To have enough courage (to do something).
I wouldn't dare (to) argue with my boss.
No one dares (to) criticize his decisions.
They daredn't tell me the truth, even though I dared (to) acknowledge my mistake to them.
I daren't tell him I've had an affair with another man.
- 2
To defy or challenge (someone to do something).
I dare you to kiss that girl.
Don't back away just yet / From destinations set / I dare you to be proud / To dare to shout aloud / For convictions that you feel / Like sound from bells to peal
Particular note, in this period, should be made of the actions of Joseph Denman, commander of the Northern Division of the Squadron, who went on an absolutely ruthless and systematic campaign along the African coast, burning so-called "slaving factories" to the ground and openly daring anyone who objected to try and stop him.
- 3
To have enough courage to meet or do something, go somewhere, etc.; to face up to.
Will you dare death to reach your goal?
To wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes.
Servants would hardly dare to enter the room where, glooming and glowering, the maned and bearded head looked up from his papers as a lion from a bone. Only Enid could dare him at such a time, and even she felt occasionally that sinking of the heart which the bravest of tamers may experience as he unbars the gate of the cage.
- 4
To terrify; to daunt.
For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs, Would dare a woman.
- 5
archaicTo drive larks to the ground by scaring them (for instance, with mirrors or hawks) so they can be caught in nets.
I have an hobby can make larks to dare
dare us, like larks
Etymology
From Middle English durren, from Old English durran, from Proto-West Germanic *durʀan, from Proto-Germanic *durzaną (“to dare”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰedʰórse (“to dare”), reduplicated stative of the root *dʰers- (“to be bold, to dare”), an *-s- extension of *dʰer- (“to hold, support”). Cognates Cognate with Low German dören, Dutch durven, German thüren, Sanskrit दधर्ष (dadhárṣa), but also with Ancient Greek θρασύς (thrasús), Albanian nder, Lithuanian drįsti, Russian дерза́ть (derzátʹ).
noun
- 1
A challenge to prove courage.
I did it just for a dare.
- 2
The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness.
It lends a lustre […] / A large dare to our great enterprise.
- 3
Defiance; challenge.
Childish, unworthy dares / Are not enough to part our powers.
Sextus Pompeius / Hath given the dare to Caesar.
- 4
In the game truth or dare, the choice to perform a dare set by the other players.
When asked truth or dare, she picked dare.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo stare stupidly or vacantly; to gaze as though amazed or terrified.
- 2
obsoleteTo lie or crouch down in fear.
Etymology
From Middle English daren, from Old English darian.
noun
- 1
A small fish, the dace
The Dare is not unlike a Chub, but proportionably less; his Body is more white and flatter, and his Tail more forked.
Forms
- plural
- dares
- past tense
- dared, durst
- past participle
- dared, durst
- present participle
- daring
- third person singular
- dares, dast
dare · To have enough courage (to do something).
Dare · A surname.Daria · A female given name from Old Persian.daring · Adventurous, willing to take on or look for risks; overbold.